Reviews with content warning for Grief - House of Bane and Blood

House of Bane and Blood is a captivating adult fantasy romance that takes place in a post-industrial age setting with a touch of the 1920s and the atmosphere of Peaky Blinders. Alexis L. Menard skillfully combines elements of magic, mythology, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance to create an engaging and immersive story.

The world-building in this novel is exceptional, with the magical Isle serving as the backdrop for a city divided into two opposing sides. I was fascinated by the exploration of power, bloodlines, secrets, and the consequences of choices made in the name of love and family.

The characters in House of Bane and Blood are richly developed and compelling. I was particularly drawn to the relationship between Camilla Marchese, the heiress, and Nicolai Attano. Their journey from enemies to friends to lovers was beautifully portrayed, and their chemistry leapt off the pages.

The plot was filled with twists and turns, and the suspenseful narrative kept me on the edge of my seat. The book ended with a tantalizing cliffhanger that left me eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

Overall, House of Bane and Blood exceeded all my expectations. Alexis L. Menard's exquisite writing style, combined with the intriguing setting, engaging characters, and the perfect blend of romance and fantasy, make this a must-read for fans of adult fantasy and romance genres. I highly recommend diving into this enchanting world crafted by Alexis L. Menard.

Content Warnings

sienasummerrreads's review

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

“He was a mistake, the most gorgeous one I would ever make”

This follows the heiress Camilla whose family is well known with power in Lynchaven. They own the Iron Saint Railway which has been in the family a long time and they will do anything to make sure it doesn’t go under. Then along comes Nicolai an enemy and part of a rival family who has an offer that she has no choice to refuse.

What a book. I went into this all because I saw the author say she binge-watched Peaky Blinders for three days straight and that’s how the book was born. THIS DID NOT DISAPPOINT. You could feel the Peaky Blinders inspiration in this book which I loved so much. The magic system and the storyline created by Alexis was fantastic. Camilla and Nico are both strong leads. They had this hate banter and tension between them which made you fall in love instantly. The things that man said in this book have me weak and wanting more. The slow burn wait to the spice was worth it. Chapter 35 was perfection I was screaming. Then we get to Chapter 41 I’m in shock I’m questioning did I read that, it can’t be real. Chapter 42 I was balling my eyes out and I couldn’t carry on. I had to take a breath before finishing. Once I got myself together I was back at it and then I finished the Epilogue. To say I’m excited for the next book is an understatement. It consumed my every thought for the past three days I honestly didn’t want it to end.

If you love:

🔹Adult Fantasy Romance
🔹Marriage Of Convenience
🔹Rivals
🔹Magic System
🔹Slow Burn
🔹Perfect Amount Of Spice

Genre/Type: Adult Fantasy Romance 18+
APK: Physical Read
Pages: 434
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️.5
Series or Stand Alone: Book 1 In The Order And Chaos Series
Tropes or Themes: Marriage Of Convenience, Rivals To Lovers, Found Family, Slow Burn, Protective MMC, Strong FMC, Contracts, Magic System, Prison, Power, Betrayal, Secrets, Mine, Jealousy, My Wife, Eyes On Me, Taken Care Of, Guns, Murder, Sexual Content, Virgin, Praise, Breath Play, Injury, Death, Cursing and Cliffhanger.
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Content Warnings

beersbooksandbooos's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I follow the author on TikTok and when she said this was Peaky Blinders mixed with the Grishaverse, I knew I had to pick up this book. Peaky Blinders is one of my favorite shows, so this book was perfect. I would have read it in one day if I didn't need sleep. The magic system was Chef Kiss and I could see where the Grishaverse magic system inspired the author. Though I really liked this magic system a lot more. I have also found my new book boyfriend in Nico, I kept picturing the musician Ren as Nico. I loved reading about Milla's growth, and how she became stronger and was able to stand her own. The side characters also made me love this book and I really can't wait to see more of them. I am glad I don't have to wait a whole year for book two, just half a year.

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