A review by laraisabelle
Blood & Betrayals by Jeanette Rose, Alexis Rune

3.5

I did not really know what to expect from this book and I think that might’ve been a good thing

I’m a bit torn about this one so let’s just first talk about the things I loved:
  • I mean I read all 1000 pages of this so this must have done something right! In general I think I did really enjoy this book or I wouldn’t have read all of it (I don’t read books this long if I don’t love what I’m reading). The writing was very easy to read and it was very bingeable
  • that ending?? (I obviously hated it but what a cliffhanger??!!!??!!) that ending single handedly convinced me that I need to read the next book even if it’s another 1000 pages 
  • CONNOR!!! my man, my love!!! You deserve nothing but the best!!! The most golden retriever mmc and I loved him from the beginning he’s just perfect in every single way (even though I need summer to end up with someone else, but I will get to that later)
  • Alice and Summers friendship and just Alice in general!! I hope we get her pov in future books because she’s everything I love in an fmc 
    the 2 minutes I thought she was dead were close to the worst of my life
     
  • The premise and the setting!! Very intriguing and I love this kind of dark romantasy/ academia setting. Very much gave me zodiac academy vibes 
  • The found family and friendships! (I’m not talking about Max and Summer here though because their friendship irks me and I thought the way they acted was so weird) 

Now the things that did not work for me that are the reason this isn’t my favourite:
  • there is no way this needed to be 1000 pages! It really dragged on after a while and the plot did not progress at all. We were just turning in circles at one point 
  • SUMMER!!! I get it girl, I love a damaged, traumatised fmc as much as the next one but my god! I’m sorry but Connor really does deserve better! I’m really hoping this changes a bit in the next book because she does have the potential for me to absolutely love her. But she really had me wanting to dnf this SEVERAL TIMES
  • The world building was so confusing sometimes because there really wasn’t any and random fact were just thrown in there here and there. Like I have no idea what’s going on in these realms and what sort of species there are and what they do… I guess I’m just along for the ride 
  • While I love Connor, the romance didn’t really do it for me! I need my slow burn and yearning 😭 an mmc like that just isn’t my fave for this type of story and the way summer handled everything pissed me off (I do think this might be something that could improve in the next book). Connor and Summers relationship was so boring and there is such a thing called emotional cheating!! Girl!! I have my theories and that gives me hope because this is just the first book and I’m sure the romance plot will evolve in a way I’ll love
  • This would’ve been so much more believable if the characters were in there early twenties and not late twenties to early thirties. They were acting so juvenile and their constant partying and drinking was so annoying and unnecessary. It did not add anything to the plot and there was no reason to make them act out like that, especially if they’re supposed to be 30 years old 
  • The nickname “big guy” excuse me while I go throw up every single time summer calls Connor big guy 
  • I love smut but there were soooo many unnecessary, repetitive sex scenes

So as you can see my opinion is a bit torn but I would say I did really enjoy this book and I’m looking forward to reading more of this series…. NEXT YEAR 🥲🥲(which is absolutely brutal after that ending but what can you do) 

I need the stranger to be the headmaster!! As soon as we saw that he can glamour himself I thought there’s still a chance!!! Maybe I’m clowning but why would there be such a focus on how attractive the headmaster is if he’s not the stranger?? Maybe I just love a professor x student trope and the dark broody tattooed (/runed) man