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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Blood Queen is book one in Caitlin Denman’s new fantasy series. I had the privilege of reading Blood Queen as an eARC, so thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for providing me with this copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review!
What I loved:
- This was action packed! I love a FMC who knows what she’s doing. It was so exciting to watch her take on her battles!
- Rune. That’s it, that’s the bullet point. 🥵
- The whole cast of characters was exciting and fleshed out. I especially loved Keir and Marv!
- The idea of soul shards was so cool to me. This was a fun and fresh take on magic!
- Layla’s perspective was so interesting. Her overall arc was captivating and kept me on the edge of my seat!
What I didn’t love:
- The pacing was a little off for me at times, but it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.
- Some of the characterization didn’t make sense to me, like Rune being clumsy in the dungeon scene while also being a super skilled warrior. But there were not a ton of instances of this, so this is a minor point.
Overall, I am rating Blood Queen 4.5 out of 5 stars! I would recommend this to fans of TOG, An Heir Comes to Rise, Song of the Marked, and Court of Dragons.
4.5 on StoryGraph, 4 on GR
What I loved:
- This was action packed! I love a FMC who knows what she’s doing. It was so exciting to watch her take on her battles!
- Rune. That’s it, that’s the bullet point. 🥵
- The whole cast of characters was exciting and fleshed out. I especially loved Keir and Marv!
- The idea of soul shards was so cool to me. This was a fun and fresh take on magic!
- Layla’s perspective was so interesting. Her overall arc was captivating and kept me on the edge of my seat!
What I didn’t love:
- The pacing was a little off for me at times, but it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.
- Some of the characterization didn’t make sense to me, like Rune being clumsy in the dungeon scene while also being a super skilled warrior. But there were not a ton of instances of this, so this is a minor point.
Overall, I am rating Blood Queen 4.5 out of 5 stars! I would recommend this to fans of TOG, An Heir Comes to Rise, Song of the Marked, and Court of Dragons.
4.5 on StoryGraph, 4 on GR
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Seems like a lot of people think the worst of me, but I perpetuated that persona. I let people fear me."
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The writing was easy to read and allowed for an immersive experience, and the story held my attention. I liked seeing Layla progress from being a sheltered queen who allowed others to rule her kingdom to understanding what was happening in her kingdom. However, there were also some things that I did not like about the book. I felt like the book's first half had good pacing, but the last 50% was very fast-paced and could have been slowed down to provide more detail and let the characters work things out more in their relationship. I also wish some parts of it included Rune's POV to understand some of his thoughts because the way his personality seemed to flip sometimes made it hard to tell if I liked him. I look forward to picking up the next book in this series to see how the cliffhanger resolves itself and how Layla and Rune's relationship progresses. Thank you, NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I tore through this book and was left wanting more. The book in the series features Layla who is a fierce woman who kicks absolute butt. Rune is the mysterious, dark brooding man everyone secretly longs for. Their banter had me laughing and I can't wait to see more of it. The cliffhanger at the end had me gaping and I can't wait to read what happens next.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a really good read!
The chemistry, the flirting, the bickering laced with sexual tension; I'm all the way here for it.
The twist was predictable, but Layla and Rune are both incredibly likeable, and the buildup and storytelling are done very well.
•••
I received a free ARC. My opinions are my own.
The chemistry, the flirting, the bickering laced with sexual tension; I'm all the way here for it.
The twist was predictable, but Layla and Rune are both incredibly likeable, and the buildup and storytelling are done very well.
•••
I received a free ARC. My opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed the writing style with the world building and characters. I'm curious to see how book 2 will go because Layla and Rune have this hot/cold relationship while Layla is having her personal growth moment. I like the mystery throughout, and the pieces left for you to put together are easy enough. I want more for this book and from this book. I need more complexity in their relationship and the personalities to be more clear. I feel like his morally gray past and her past are a great base for redemption in book 2. There's so much good that she has done that no one knows about. I also like these side characters and I hope they are fleshed out more.
This book was enjoyable and an easy read. It had a good amount of spice, but I feel like the character's desires vs relationship needs more. I hope book 2 will shape it more.
If you like romantasy, slight mystery, bossy-bossy, arranged marriage, and familiars, you would like this.
This book was enjoyable and an easy read. It had a good amount of spice, but I feel like the character's desires vs relationship needs more. I hope book 2 will shape it more.
If you like romantasy, slight mystery, bossy-bossy, arranged marriage, and familiars, you would like this.
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Layla, as she unravels the truth behind her parents' death and the mysterious things happening in her kingdom, became a stronger character in this book. She is not the type of queen that could be manipulated. I actually think she is quite a badass when she finally grew up and learned how to fight.
Rune is also an interesting character although I think he kind of needs to learn how to manage his emotions; he react very intensly in some situations. Yet, he has been very supportive of Layla throughout her trying to uncover the mysteries surrounding her kingdom.
The twist in this story was kind of predictable but the way it was revealed still caught my interest. The villain in this story made me feel disgusted of them. I literally had to close the app where I read and let my emotions calm down. That villain is an awful being. Entirely, the whole story is amazing. There was no boring moment and is definitely a page turner. Something I would recommend if you want romantasy, sprinkled with spice, and interesting royal storyline.
🌸 Recieved a copy from the author but all thoughts and opinions are my own
Rune is also an interesting character although I think he kind of needs to learn how to manage his emotions; he react very intensly in some situations. Yet, he has been very supportive of Layla throughout her trying to uncover the mysteries surrounding her kingdom.
The twist in this story was kind of predictable but the way it was revealed still caught my interest. The villain in this story made me feel disgusted of them. I literally had to close the app where I read and let my emotions calm down. That villain is an awful being. Entirely, the whole story is amazing. There was no boring moment and is definitely a page turner. Something I would recommend if you want romantasy, sprinkled with spice, and interesting royal storyline.
🌸 Recieved a copy from the author but all thoughts and opinions are my own
Thank you to Caitlin for an ARC of this book for an honest review!
Okay, so I really liked the premise and the first third or so. The way Layla and Rune met was 🔥🔥🔥. Arranged marriage, assassin queen with a penchant for daggers, animal sidekicks. All cool. I would have liked to know more about Rune, but there will be more story for that. Their relationship gave me a bit of whiplash. Do you like him, hate him, what?
The middle bit felt like it had some pacing issues, but that could just be a me problem. The ending was dramatic and twisty and sets up things well for book 2!
Okay, so I really liked the premise and the first third or so. The way Layla and Rune met was 🔥🔥🔥. Arranged marriage, assassin queen with a penchant for daggers, animal sidekicks. All cool. I would have liked to know more about Rune, but there will be more story for that. Their relationship gave me a bit of whiplash. Do you like him, hate him, what?
The middle bit felt like it had some pacing issues, but that could just be a me problem. The ending was dramatic and twisty and sets up things well for book 2!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
~Lovers to enemies to reluctant allies
~Arranged Marriage
~Touch Her and Die
~Secret Identities
~Dark Romantasy
~Spice
Review:
This does end off on a cliffhanger and I am eagerly and impatiently waiting for Book 2! I need to know what happens next! Seriously, what a way to end the book!
I was interested right from the very start, and I was kept interested right to the very end.
Layla is a strong morally grey FMC, and I love it. Rune, I haven’t exactly made up my mind on just yet, but I am leaning heavily towards we love him.
*I received this as an ARC, and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review*
🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
~Lovers to enemies to reluctant allies
~Arranged Marriage
~Touch Her and Die
~Secret Identities
~Dark Romantasy
~Spice
Review:
This does end off on a cliffhanger and I am eagerly and impatiently waiting for Book 2! I need to know what happens next! Seriously, what a way to end the book!
I was interested right from the very start, and I was kept interested right to the very end.
Layla is a strong morally grey FMC, and I love it. Rune, I haven’t exactly made up my mind on just yet, but I am leaning heavily towards we love him.
*I received this as an ARC, and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review*