Reviews with content warning for Child death - House of Bane and Blood

Reviews tagging 'Child death'

House of Bane and Blood by Alexis L. Menard

8 reviews

howboutjane's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.5

If you like peaky blinders, magic, and old western movies then this one's for you!

The MMC gives Inspector gadget for adults vibes and the FMC gives serious mob wife energy. Romance is more steam than spice - a deliciously sinful slow burn with off the charts chemistry that will leave you panting.

I did find I was a little bit confused with the world buidling and magic systems in the beginning chapters, but they are expanded on and explained more as you go through the book. The plot is solid with captivating storytelling. There's drama, suspense, betrayal, passion, love. There's even a scene with a fight on a moving train - THIS BOOK HAS EVERYTHING. Such a riveting experience and an immersive read. Would recommend. 👍🏽👍🏽

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juliereadsromance's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

~~ REVIEW~~
House of Bane and Blood
By Alexis Menard
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4.5 rounded to 5 stars

What do you call it when the double crossed double crosses? Is that quadruple crossing?

It was this kind of mind puzzle that slowed me down at the end of this otherwise gorgeous romantasy novel: House of Bane and Blood.

Have you ever read a fantasy romance that felt more like historical romance? I’ve never watched Peeky Blinders, but I’m guessing this book feels a lot like that. The atmosphere feels like old New York or London- when there were gangsters walking around dirty cobblestone streets, smoking cigars and wearing hats down low on their face, and it was basically always dusk or nighttime. Writing in the Fantasy genre gave the author the freedom to create a kind of anachronistic urban world of competing families that could mix old and new, and real and pretend. For example, there are horse drawn carriages but also lots of indoor plumbing. There is some magic but also a lot of science.

The romance between Camilla and Nico here is 🤌🏽 *lip smack sound*.

He’s hot. She’s hot. They hate each other for understandable reasons - their fathers may have tried to kill each other. Although they each do some not nice things to the other, their motivations are based on love and loyalty to their family. So you love them both and just wait until these two hot people let themselves love each other and get it on.

I devoured this book in two days. Even non-fantasy fans will enjoy this romance.

[⚠️ Caution! This is a DUOLOGY and the second book isn’t out yet. So this one ends on a cliff hanger. However, the romance is pretty wrapped up here and book 2 seems like it moreso wraps up other aspects of mysteries in the world the author built. So I don’t think Book 2 is essential for primary Romance readers. ] @alexislmenard

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katieklysmic's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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karapillar's review against another edition

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dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

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vi_holmes's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this book, especially the first half! Camilla is a great character! A real badass, witty, and smart. The Attano family were also a big highlight for me. So many great personalities. Nonna had me cackling.

My only complaints are that Camilla's willfully blind faith in her brothers (especially Aramis) got tiring.

I didn't care for his explaination for his behaviour either. He would have been a better character for me if he remained cold and selfish as he was portayed.

And the ending felt rushed. I'm very keen to see where it will lead in the next book, but I just didn't love the ending. But I will say

Giles deserved better

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teaand_tomes's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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.

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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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nicole_thereader's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging lighthearted tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

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