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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. 👍🏽👍🏽
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. 👍🏽👍🏽
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, and Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content and Confinement
Minor: Death of parent and Child death
juliereadsromance's review against another edition
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
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Child death
tguccione's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Classism, Murder, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Body horror, Confinement, Grief, and Police brutality
Minor: Suicide and Sexual harassment
gildedspines's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore
katieklysmic's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Gun violence, and Death of parent
belle13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
4.75
❤️Arranged Marriage of Convenience
❤️Peaky Blinders Vibes
❤️Family Dynamics
❤️Rival Families
❤️Magic and Science
❤️Slow Burn
❤️ Rivals to Lovers
Amount of spice:🔥 - Extreme Slow Burn
Explicitness: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting to love this as much as I did but I absolutely ate it up. They just had such a fun dynamic and I loved the way Milla was actually the one saving Nico most of the time, she was such a sassy little badass. I’m also a huge fan of a slow burn and for me, this was just the right amount of burn and by the time they actually got physical I was absolutely hooked.
There were lots of twists and turns and it was a bit of a wild ride at times. There were parts that felt a little confusing and hard to keep up with but I was addicted nonetheless. The last 20% was particularly wild and it ends on such a bang!
The only thing I would have liked more of was the family dynamics. The supporting characters have so much potential and I desperately want to know more about all of them so I hope we get to see more of them and that they become a little more fleshed out - each encounter with them seemed a little too brief.
I would recommend it if you liked Kingdom of the Wicked or Serpent and Dove or you love a badass FMC and an MMC that can’t help but fall head over heels for her.
❤️Peaky Blinders Vibes
❤️Family Dynamics
❤️Rival Families
❤️Magic and Science
❤️Slow Burn
❤️ Rivals to Lovers
Amount of spice:🔥 - Extreme Slow Burn
Explicitness: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting to love this as much as I did but I absolutely ate it up. They just had such a fun dynamic and I loved the way Milla was actually the one saving Nico most of the time, she was such a sassy little badass. I’m also a huge fan of a slow burn and for me, this was just the right amount of burn and by the time they actually got physical I was absolutely hooked.
There were lots of twists and turns and it was a bit of a wild ride at times. There were parts that felt a little confusing and hard to keep up with but I was addicted nonetheless. The last 20% was particularly wild and it ends on such a bang!
The only thing I would have liked more of was the family dynamics. The supporting characters have so much potential and I desperately want to know more about all of them so I hope we get to see more of them and that they become a little more fleshed out - each encounter with them seemed a little too brief.
I would recommend it if you liked Kingdom of the Wicked or Serpent and Dove or you love a badass FMC and an MMC that can’t help but fall head over heels for her.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
karapillar's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Stalking, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Abandonment, Death, Grief, War, Alcohol, Body horror, Confinement, Torture, Sexual content, Blood, Sexual violence, Murder, Child death, Gore, and Death of parent
Moderate: Hate crime
Minor: Cursing, Xenophobia, Medical content, Colonisation, Vomit, Trafficking, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Slavery
jilliri's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, War, Classism, Alcohol, Death, Gore, Blood, Toxic relationship, and Car accident
Moderate: Sexual content, Classism, Confinement, and Death of parent
Minor: Kidnapping and Vomit
vi_holmes's review against another edition
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
My only complaints are that Camilla's willfully blind faith in her brothers (especially Aramis) got tiring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Alcohol, Abandonment, Classism, Gore, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Child death, War, Gaslighting, and Torture
teaand_tomes's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Child death and Death of parent