Ahhhh.. the ending was amazing 🤩🤩 the post twist!! The cliffhanger.
I must say the start of the book was slow paced. However things start to pick up at the middle of the story. Second half of the book was absolutely brilliant. , fast paced and completely unpredictable. And give me huge second lead couple syndrome. I can't wait for the second book .
Thank you netgallay and Samantha Gonda for the arc

A Reign of Blood by Samantha Gonda is a 5 star read for me. It was sooo good. I couldn't stop reading this book for a bit. I totally recommend everyone to read this book.

Aria infiltrates the Skierkan court to destroy the enemy of her people- the prince himself. But he's something more and she ends up falling for him.

Lots of steam, intrigue and betrayal. A fun and seductive book. Really enjoy it. The ending was a surprise and filled with twists.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

4.5/5 I want the next book immediately, please and thank you!

I immediately felt myself drawn into this book, there wasn't a slow start or info-dumping period, it was so well-paced.

Cool creatures with cool lore, political drama, hidden identities, enemies to lovers, adventure - everything you could possibly want in a fantasy novel/series!

I loved the characters, their personalities and dynamics together.

Very random thing for me to comment on, but I loved: our FMC mentioned having to go pee! Why did I love that so much?! I am one of those people that when reading a book or watching a movie, I think "when do they go to the bathroom?" But maybe my small bladder is just to blame for that. But it made me laugh and I appreciated it because yeah, I'd need many bathroom breaks on a magical adventure. She also mentioned that she had dirty hair and it needed to be washed and she was desperate to do so, and that was SUCH a mood.

And the way it ends! I need answers and I need the next book. I cannot wait for this adventure to continue.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

**ARC Review: *A Reign of Blood* by Samantha Gonda**

If you’re craving a *dark, moody fantasy* with morally gray characters, intense tension, and a lead who *doesn’t hold back*, *A Reign of Blood* needs to be on your radar. Samantha Gonda kicks off *The Songs of Beasts* series with an *absolute banger*—packed with vengeance, forbidden attraction, and a world that feels *as dangerous as it does intoxicating*.

This book gives us a fierce, no-nonsense protagonist who’s *practical, confident, and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty*. No *soft and sweet* here—Gonda delivers *sharp dialogue, brutal stakes, and an atmosphere so rich you can almost taste the blood in the air*.

The beginning sets the stage with intricate world-building, but *once the story picks up, it doesn’t let go*. The *second half is a full-throttle ride* with twists that’ll leave you *reeling*. And the romance? *Deliciously forbidden*—the kind that keeps you flipping pages way past midnight.

If you love *dark fantasy with edge*, this one’s for you. Gonda’s writing is *gritty, immersive, and unapologetic*, setting up what’s sure to be a series that *only gets more intense from here*.

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity 💕**

4.5 Stars

Thank you Net Galley and Samantha Gonda for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

From the very first page, I was completely drawn into the captivating world that Samantha Gonda has crafted. The magic system, the creatures, and the intricate world-building were all incredibly immersive. I found myself unable to put the book down, and even when I wasn't reading, I was constantly thinking about it.

One of the highlights of this book is the multiple points of view. Normally, I find myself less interested in at least one character's perspective, but not this time. Each character's story was compelling and kept me engaged throughout.

Aria, the main female character, was a standout. She was strong, confident, and easy to fall in love with. Raask, with his dual nature as both the charming and charismatic prince and his darker, more cruel side, was fascinating to follow. I loved how Aria brought out his true self. Similarly, Viggo, who initially I wasn't sure about, grew on me significantly as the story progressed, and I found his chapters highly enjoyable.

The romance plot lines throughout the story were amazing. Although at times it felt a bit rushed and insta-lovey, the chemistry between the characters was undeniable, and I found myself rooting for their relationships.

While some parts of the story felt slow, I was thoroughly enjoying the different perspectives. The plot had some well-executed twists that kept me guessing and intrigued throughout.

The ending of the book was nothing short of spectacular. It was insane in the best way possible, and I loved every moment of it. The bond between Raask and Viggo, their brotherly dynamic, was one of my favourite aspects of the book. You could truly feel how much they cared for each other.

This book was everything I could want in a fantasy novel. It was immersive, emotional, and filled with rich character dynamics. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did, and I am eagerly anticipating the next instalment to see how the story continues to unfold.

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).

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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 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.

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.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 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)

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.

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.