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A review by desirae_marie
Blood & Betrayals by Jeanette Rose, Alexis Rune
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5/5)
“Sometimes I look up at the stars, looking for answers. But the answers don’t come from the twinkling lights. They come from the impenetrable darkness between them.”
Blood & Betrayals had potential, but it didn’t quite deliver the way I hoped.
Let’s start with Summer (the FMC)... she was so hard to root for. She gave off serious pick-me energy and constantly reminded us how hot she was and how every guy wanted her. If I had to hear her call Connor “big guy” one more time (124 times, btw), I might’ve thrown my Kindle.
Connor honestly deserved better. He was way too nice for her, and their relationship didn’t feel earned—it was all spice and “I love yous” with zero emotional depth.
Max, on the other hand? I loved him. So sweet, so genuine—one of the few characters I actually looked forward to seeing. Of course, Summer treated him like trash. She wanted to be friends, then got upset he wasn’t into her romantically?? Classic pick-me behavior again.
And don’t even get me started on the Stranger. I was obsessed. I needed to know who he was and… I still don’t. Total letdown.
The pacing was rough. For a 782-page book, it felt like a good 100+ pages went by with nothing really happening. And then the ending? Rushed and out of nowhere. 🫠
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, but this one just didn’t hit the mark for me.
“Sometimes I look up at the stars, looking for answers. But the answers don’t come from the twinkling lights. They come from the impenetrable darkness between them.”
Blood & Betrayals had potential, but it didn’t quite deliver the way I hoped.
Let’s start with Summer (the FMC)... she was so hard to root for. She gave off serious pick-me energy and constantly reminded us how hot she was and how every guy wanted her. If I had to hear her call Connor “big guy” one more time (124 times, btw), I might’ve thrown my Kindle.
Connor honestly deserved better. He was way too nice for her, and their relationship didn’t feel earned—it was all spice and “I love yous” with zero emotional depth.
Max, on the other hand? I loved him. So sweet, so genuine—one of the few characters I actually looked forward to seeing. Of course, Summer treated him like trash. She wanted to be friends, then got upset he wasn’t into her romantically?? Classic pick-me behavior again.
And don’t even get me started on the Stranger. I was obsessed. I needed to know who he was and… I still don’t. Total letdown.
The pacing was rough. For a 782-page book, it felt like a good 100+ pages went by with nothing really happening. And then the ending? Rushed and out of nowhere. 🫠
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, but this one just didn’t hit the mark for me.