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A review by winecellarlibrary
Shadow & Ash: Bloodbound by Timoteu Montroig
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library
"Our eyes met, and the room descended into silence. It was as if time had come to a standstill, with neither of us able, or wanting, to break the intense connection we were feeling." (p. 80)
Spice Level:
🌶🌶
Tropes:
historical fantasy, MM romance, paranormal romance, vampires, Ancient Greece, Spartans, mentor/mentee romance, forbidden love, slow burn, LGBTQIA+
An impossible romance between a Spartan soldier and a vampire in ancient Greece
Set in ancient Greece in the 5th century BCE, Shadow & Ash: Bloodbound melds paranormal romance with historical fantasy. Amidst the growing threat of a Persian invasion, Kallian, a Spartan soldier, and his mentor, Aristion, must discreetly gather intel. When a kiss awakens a shared passion, Aristion pulls back. Despite their proximity, Kallian has not yet realized that Aristion is a century-old vrykolakas–an immortal Greek vampire. Aristion is hesitant to love a mortal, and while he could attempt to change Kallian, only one in fifty survive the transition from human to vrykolakas. With war looming and a forbidden and impossible romance growing, Aristion’s and Kallian’s lives and hearts hang in the balance.
Timoteu Montroig’s debut novel, Shadow & Ash: Bloodbound reimagines history with vampires living and working alongside mortals. Instead of being an ominous entity living in the shadows and enslaved to bloodlust, the vrykolakas are neutral, only striking against those who seek to destroy them. Focusing more on their superhuman abilities, the narrative casts vampires in a positive light. I appreciate that the fantasy aspect was understated, making the world-building feel more realistic. Everyone is familiar with the valor of Sparta, and the addition of vampiric fantasy to Spartan history is captivating. The historical setting and magical realism set this novel apart. I would love to see this book become a series! Shadow & Ash: Bloodbound is perfect for adult MM romance readers who savor a slow-burn, forbidden romance between a mentor and a mentee with a dash of the paranormal for flair.
"Our eyes met, and the room descended into silence. It was as if time had come to a standstill, with neither of us able, or wanting, to break the intense connection we were feeling." (p. 80)
Spice Level:
🌶🌶
Tropes:
historical fantasy, MM romance, paranormal romance, vampires, Ancient Greece, Spartans, mentor/mentee romance, forbidden love, slow burn, LGBTQIA+
An impossible romance between a Spartan soldier and a vampire in ancient Greece
Set in ancient Greece in the 5th century BCE, Shadow & Ash: Bloodbound melds paranormal romance with historical fantasy. Amidst the growing threat of a Persian invasion, Kallian, a Spartan soldier, and his mentor, Aristion, must discreetly gather intel. When a kiss awakens a shared passion, Aristion pulls back. Despite their proximity, Kallian has not yet realized that Aristion is a century-old vrykolakas–an immortal Greek vampire. Aristion is hesitant to love a mortal, and while he could attempt to change Kallian, only one in fifty survive the transition from human to vrykolakas. With war looming and a forbidden and impossible romance growing, Aristion’s and Kallian’s lives and hearts hang in the balance.
Timoteu Montroig’s debut novel, Shadow & Ash: Bloodbound reimagines history with vampires living and working alongside mortals. Instead of being an ominous entity living in the shadows and enslaved to bloodlust, the vrykolakas are neutral, only striking against those who seek to destroy them. Focusing more on their superhuman abilities, the narrative casts vampires in a positive light. I appreciate that the fantasy aspect was understated, making the world-building feel more realistic. Everyone is familiar with the valor of Sparta, and the addition of vampiric fantasy to Spartan history is captivating. The historical setting and magical realism set this novel apart. I would love to see this book become a series! Shadow & Ash: Bloodbound is perfect for adult MM romance readers who savor a slow-burn, forbidden romance between a mentor and a mentee with a dash of the paranormal for flair.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Death, Violence, and War