gripping, dark fantasy novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy tales of power, betrayal, and survival.

I really enjoyed the multiple POV's and how you got to see everything from each person perspective and see how they felt about the same things. I liked how we got to read the growth of each character. I loved the relationship between Raask and Viggo. It was a really sweet to read about two brothers who love each other instead of fighting over the crown. I like the FMC Aria. She has had a rough past but was willing to do whatever she had to do for her people. That ending had my jaw dropped.

I can't wait to read the next book! Thank you so much Samantha Gonda and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to be apart of the ARC team!❤️

This is a wonderful dark fantasy novel! The characters are intriguing and the overall vibe is dark, moody, and mysterious! As the story deepens and you begin to understand the motives of the characters, everything just comes together very cohesively. I really enjoyed the fantasy world and the fantasy creatures that are depicted, such as sprites, wraiths, sirens, zombie-like mutilated monster men, and humans with magic powers that are enhanced by ground up crystal powder (lithe) and how the various colors of lithe will have differing effects on the consumer! I found this story to be a wild ride. I thought it was going one way and it would completely flip and go another direction. Kept me on my toes! I love that because sometimes we get used to repetitive themes in fantasy so this was a breath of fresh air, while simultaneously ripping the breath from my lungs with the shocking twists. Very good debut!

This book surpassed my initial interest and then some!

I could not put this book down once I started and I wish there was more to get lost in. Everyone is morally grey - hurting and looking for their person - but who will forge the world they want most?

There are multiple points of view in this story, but don’t let that deter you if it’s not your normal cup of tea. The points of view were an absolute benefit to the story and never once confusing to follow.

Aria, our main female character, is in her late 20s, and she views herself as a predator. She hates the ruling family, but a certain prince - who she says is not HER prince - gives her a "touch him and die” drive that she can't ignore.

Enter our golden-haired prince, Raask, one of the main male characters.
Raask is handsome and tanned with deep blue eyes - he’s also the heir to the throne. The first solo encounter between the MMC and the injured FMC goes like this: "Hop on my back..." he commanded..."Good girl". He takes care of her, but he will also be cruel for her.

Our other male point of view is General (and Prince) Viggo - our tall warrior blessed with the magic of literal death. This big brother will do anything he can to help Raask before he takes the throne. But what if Raask doesn't know everything he's doing?

The love triangles are enjoyable to read. The magic system is based on ancient magic tied to various creatures from sirens, to sprites, etc. There is also a magical substance that coats the castle walls, can be turned into powders, and is used in tattoos.

Thank you to NetGalley and BeRead Ltd for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of A Reign of Blood by Samantha Gonda.

What to expect:
- unique magic system
- lots of different magical beings
- forbidden love
- multiple POV's
- morally grey characters

While I guessed the plot twists, this was still an enjoyable read. I think the writing had some moments of repetition and could've used a bit more editing. That being said, I had a good time reading this and am anxious for book 2.That ending though, what a cliffhanger!

Worldbuilding was ace in this! I especially loved the Dahs, this magical, dark ocean of dangerous sea creatures with thick, viscous waters. A king hellbent on genocide, magical experimentation on his subjects, and warmongering leads an empire built on magic mined from the sea, using enslaved peoples, including the syrens.

The characters are all morally grey, most doing bad things for the sake of the greater good. Some are just evil, like the king. All are deeply flawed.

I loved it. Can't wait to read more in this fascinating world and see what happens next.

4.5 stars

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!