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A review by maxarcreads
Invoking the Blood by Kalista Neith
4.0
This was a really interesting book. I liked a lot of aspect of this book, and it is a start of a series, and I will definitely be checking out the next book.
I really enjoyed the concept as there was a strong focus on the women in this book as it seems to be a Matriarchy led courts at least some of them. This especially translated into a woman's sexual pleasure as the high-class men of the courts actually receive sexual training to make sure they can satisfy any woman they were with. I really enjoyed that along without FMC Faye who was a strong FMC who wouldn't settle for anything an equal partner but had to be cautious because technically in a magically world like hers that determines status and if a court will welcome you by the power you have, she as a powerless woman could at best hope to be a pet so someone powerful. Something she didn't want. This meant at times she would have to fake having a magical shard that is used to display magic and the strength of it or use her sister as cover. She was definitely a resourceful woman working within the system as it would allow her while at times breaking the rules and refusing to accept less than her worth. This became obvious with her relationship with Rune who let his bias against those without magic, courts or different species get in the way of having a true equal relationship with Faye. Along with his own preconceived notions of who his queen would be and because she didn't check each box then the mate connection between them is a trick orchestrated by Faye who doesn't have magic. Rune could definitely be frustrating at times but what helps to make up for it is a separate entity (Voshki) within him that is a manifestation of his bloodlust and is more primal so societal expectations and beliefs aren't clouding his mind. Really enjoyed whenever he came out to play.
I will say however as much as I enjoyed the plot and concept, I do think this book could do with more worldbuilding with more focus on the courts and their structures and the magic structures. While I enjoyed what I was reading I feel at times these certain matters were glossed over and at first, I would think I understood something but then later on I would be confused because what I thought I understood something to be differed later in the book. Like the matriarchy courts where there are queens at the helm, but the council has 2 kings or men who are in charge of their courts? I was also confused about how they invoke a person's magic as at first it sounds like someone has sexy time on an alter to bring about their magic, but Faye talks about how her ceremony didn't bring up her magic, but she was a virgin so if the ritual wasn't completed properly why would her magic have appeared and then later when she has the sexy time with rune it didn't fully work because it wasn't on an alter but in particular her particular alter. I don't know honestly; I was just left feeling confused about how someone invokes their magic which is really important in this society as without magic you can hope at best to be treated like someone's pet. People with magic view those without magic as little better than animals because of this so it's important for the ritual to go right.
There were a couple other moments of similar confusion, but this was the big one for me especially since it is so important to the characters and society.
Overall, I did enjoy the concept, characters and plot but I do wish there was a little more worldbuilding to better understand this new world/society. It does leave on a cliff hanger, and I will be reading the next book.
This book is about Faye who is a magicless being in a society based around magic. It determines everything including a welcome at a court which would better their lives. Their lives being her and her adoptive sister who does have magic but refuses to join any court where her sister would be treated no better than a pet. While her sister Sparrow is always getting them into wild situations, she knows that she always has her back. Which is why she lets Sparrow talk her into sneaking into Hunter's Moon ball on the night of a blood moon. A night that is both sacred but also a wild party for those who are vampires. But while at this party and hidden by her sister's magic she still manages to catch the eye or the nose of the Shadow Prince. One of the most powerful and feared creatures among the courts. Thankfully she is able to escape before he catches and reveals her to the court where she would not be welcomed. But since then, she has been having these amazing dreams of the shadow prince that leaving her feeling cherished and cared for. Eventually it ends up in the prince being able to use what appears to be a shared dream to track down the woman he believes to be his fated queen. That is until he realizes that she is an Anarian (someone without magic) and that means she is not immortal. So, it must be a trick because fate wouldn't pair him with someone without magic and whose death would result in his own death...right? So will Rune be able to work past his preconceived notions and see her for herself the woman he so cherished in their dreams.
I really enjoyed the concept as there was a strong focus on the women in this book as it seems to be a Matriarchy led courts at least some of them. This especially translated into a woman's sexual pleasure as the high-class men of the courts actually receive sexual training to make sure they can satisfy any woman they were with. I really enjoyed that along without FMC Faye who was a strong FMC who wouldn't settle for anything an equal partner but had to be cautious because technically in a magically world like hers that determines status and if a court will welcome you by the power you have, she as a powerless woman could at best hope to be a pet so someone powerful. Something she didn't want. This meant at times she would have to fake having a magical shard that is used to display magic and the strength of it or use her sister as cover. She was definitely a resourceful woman working within the system as it would allow her while at times breaking the rules and refusing to accept less than her worth. This became obvious with her relationship with Rune who let his bias against those without magic, courts or different species get in the way of having a true equal relationship with Faye. Along with his own preconceived notions of who his queen would be and because she didn't check each box then the mate connection between them is a trick orchestrated by Faye who doesn't have magic. Rune could definitely be frustrating at times but what helps to make up for it is a separate entity (Voshki) within him that is a manifestation of his bloodlust and is more primal so societal expectations and beliefs aren't clouding his mind. Really enjoyed whenever he came out to play.
I will say however as much as I enjoyed the plot and concept, I do think this book could do with more worldbuilding with more focus on the courts and their structures and the magic structures. While I enjoyed what I was reading I feel at times these certain matters were glossed over and at first, I would think I understood something but then later on I would be confused because what I thought I understood something to be differed later in the book. Like the matriarchy courts where there are queens at the helm, but the council has 2 kings or men who are in charge of their courts? I was also confused about how they invoke a person's magic as at first it sounds like someone has sexy time on an alter to bring about their magic, but Faye talks about how her ceremony didn't bring up her magic, but she was a virgin so if the ritual wasn't completed properly why would her magic have appeared and then later when she has the sexy time with rune it didn't fully work because it wasn't on an alter but in particular her particular alter. I don't know honestly; I was just left feeling confused about how someone invokes their magic which is really important in this society as without magic you can hope at best to be treated like someone's pet. People with magic view those without magic as little better than animals because of this so it's important for the ritual to go right.
There were a couple other moments of similar confusion, but this was the big one for me especially since it is so important to the characters and society.
Overall, I did enjoy the concept, characters and plot but I do wish there was a little more worldbuilding to better understand this new world/society. It does leave on a cliff hanger, and I will be reading the next book.
This book is about Faye who is a magicless being in a society based around magic. It determines everything including a welcome at a court which would better their lives. Their lives being her and her adoptive sister who does have magic but refuses to join any court where her sister would be treated no better than a pet. While her sister Sparrow is always getting them into wild situations, she knows that she always has her back. Which is why she lets Sparrow talk her into sneaking into Hunter's Moon ball on the night of a blood moon. A night that is both sacred but also a wild party for those who are vampires. But while at this party and hidden by her sister's magic she still manages to catch the eye or the nose of the Shadow Prince. One of the most powerful and feared creatures among the courts. Thankfully she is able to escape before he catches and reveals her to the court where she would not be welcomed. But since then, she has been having these amazing dreams of the shadow prince that leaving her feeling cherished and cared for. Eventually it ends up in the prince being able to use what appears to be a shared dream to track down the woman he believes to be his fated queen. That is until he realizes that she is an Anarian (someone without magic) and that means she is not immortal. So, it must be a trick because fate wouldn't pair him with someone without magic and whose death would result in his own death...right? So will Rune be able to work past his preconceived notions and see her for herself the woman he so cherished in their dreams.