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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
"Sit down before I take you on this table."
Layla is known as the Blood Queen. She'll do anything for her kingdom. After her parents' death, uncertainty and murder plague the lands. An arranged marriage to a foreign prince gives her hope for peace. However, more lies are unearthed, and Layla needs to find out the truth. Will she finally find out who murdered her parents?
Do you ever feel like a book is just alright, but you want to read the next one to see what happens? That's this book.
It's not that it was a bad book, but I found it predictable. I knew within the first few chapters who the killer was going to be. The bad vibes were definitely there.
I also felt that the main characters were wishy washy. For example, Rune was described as a cold-blooded killer one minute and acts like he's a scared child the next. He is strong and then weak in the following chapter. Layla went back and forth a lot on both love and trust. Rune and Layla relationship was very "I love you and then I hate you". Same with Layla trust in people, she lacks the ability to decide on your feelings. The inner monolog could be too much at times.
However, there are positives about the book as well. I appreciated that Rune was very protective over Layla even though she clearly doesn't need it. His cut throat attention was attractive. There was also some really good spice throughout the book, but I wanted more!!
The plot was very simple but easy to read. I didn't feel like it was long enough, and not a lot happened. The whole book left me wanting more, I would have loved for it to be longer. So yes, I want to read the next one just to see how the story continues.
Layla is known as the Blood Queen. She'll do anything for her kingdom. After her parents' death, uncertainty and murder plague the lands. An arranged marriage to a foreign prince gives her hope for peace. However, more lies are unearthed, and Layla needs to find out the truth. Will she finally find out who murdered her parents?
Do you ever feel like a book is just alright, but you want to read the next one to see what happens? That's this book.
It's not that it was a bad book, but I found it predictable. I knew within the first few chapters who the killer was going to be. The bad vibes were definitely there.
I also felt that the main characters were wishy washy. For example, Rune was described as a cold-blooded killer one minute and acts like he's a scared child the next. He is strong and then weak in the following chapter. Layla went back and forth a lot on both love and trust. Rune and Layla relationship was very "I love you and then I hate you". Same with Layla trust in people, she lacks the ability to decide on your feelings. The inner monolog could be too much at times.
However, there are positives about the book as well. I appreciated that Rune was very protective over Layla even though she clearly doesn't need it. His cut throat attention was attractive. There was also some really good spice throughout the book, but I wanted more!!
The plot was very simple but easy to read. I didn't feel like it was long enough, and not a lot happened. The whole book left me wanting more, I would have loved for it to be longer. So yes, I want to read the next one just to see how the story continues.
4.5/5 Stars
This book has everything I could ever ask for, a FMC who doesn’t need a man but isn’t bothered by having one around, a mysterious MMC and lots of fantasy and spice. Our main character is Layla and her people call her the blood queen, because of one incident she had. Her parents were murdered, and she hopes to eventually find the murderer. She has to marry a foreign prince since it was one of the last things her parents wanted before they died.
I loved Layla, she was a fmc that i absolutely adored, because honestly sometimes reading about a fmc who doesn’t rely on a man is refreshing especially since most fantasies it seems the fmcs do. I loved Rune too, he was super mysterious and his character especially during the spicy scenes was hot. And the spicy scenes / romance scenes we did get 5/5 stars for spice, I loved every second of it.
The world building was okay, it felt like some things I should’ve known I didn’t which was fine at times but others I was just like what? Otherwise I enjoyed how the magic worked and the concept of soul shards. ( I absolutely loved Keir! )
The ending was a cliffhanger, and I can’t wait to read the next book! Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book has everything I could ever ask for, a FMC who doesn’t need a man but isn’t bothered by having one around, a mysterious MMC and lots of fantasy and spice. Our main character is Layla and her people call her the blood queen, because of one incident she had. Her parents were murdered, and she hopes to eventually find the murderer. She has to marry a foreign prince since it was one of the last things her parents wanted before they died.
I loved Layla, she was a fmc that i absolutely adored, because honestly sometimes reading about a fmc who doesn’t rely on a man is refreshing especially since most fantasies it seems the fmcs do. I loved Rune too, he was super mysterious and his character especially during the spicy scenes was hot. And the spicy scenes / romance scenes we did get 5/5 stars for spice, I loved every second of it.
The world building was okay, it felt like some things I should’ve known I didn’t which was fine at times but others I was just like what? Otherwise I enjoyed how the magic worked and the concept of soul shards. ( I absolutely loved Keir! )
The ending was a cliffhanger, and I can’t wait to read the next book! Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)
Somewhere between 2.5 - 3 stars. I think the biggest thing I struggled with is I didn't really like the two main characters. (Keir and Betsy were great though.) They were kind of toxic together. Most of their interactions were one of the Fs and there wasn't much character development. Sometimes Rune felt like two totally different people?
Felt like there were a lot of random parts and it just kind of jumped around plot wise. Also Layla really couldn't figure out who the bad guy was??? I understand a good cliffhanger but this one just felt abrupt.
Somewhere between 2.5 - 3 stars. I think the biggest thing I struggled with is I didn't really like the two main characters. (Keir and Betsy were great though.) They were kind of toxic together. Most of their interactions were one of the Fs and there wasn't much character development. Sometimes Rune felt like two totally different people?
Felt like there were a lot of random parts and it just kind of jumped around plot wise. Also Layla really couldn't figure out who the bad guy was??? I understand a good cliffhanger but this one just felt abrupt.
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
‼️ ARC REVIEW ‼️
First, I want to thank Caitlin for sending me this digital ARC; it was my first ARC read and I'm so honored that she trusted me to read and review it.
⭐: 4 of 5
First, I want to thank Caitlin for sending me this digital ARC; it was my first ARC read and I'm so honored that she trusted me to read and review it.
⭐: 4 of 5
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It had a lot of potential but wasn’t well executed in my opinion
I couldn’t connect with the characters or find them touching
I couldn’t connect with the characters or find them touching
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No