Blood Queen

Blood Queen #1

by Caitlin Denman

Death gave her the throne, now death is how she’ll keep it.

She may be called the Blood Queen, but Layla will do anything for her kingdom's peace.

As queen of a kingdom plagued by murders, Layla struggles to live up to the expectations her parents had of her. Whispers of rebellion and dissent grow daily, and a murderer stalks the townspeople.

In agreeing to marry a foreign prince, she hopes to find a way to bring stability back to the land. But, she fears the marriage, unlike her parents, will be devoid of love.

On the eve of her betrothal's arrival, Layla sneaks away and enjoys one last passionate night with a stranger. But doing so threatens everything her parents laid out for her. As more lies come to the surface, Layla will do whatever it takes to keep her kingdom safe—even murder.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Ebooks, Fantasy Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark

341 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 2023

Reviews

[Darcey · Rating 2 out of 5]

arc copy provided in exchange for an honest review. this in no way changes my rating or review.

this book was... not for me.

i barely made it through, skimming the last 25% or so, and the only thing keeping it above 1 star was a cute little side character. also the talking crow.

the main character really irritated me - for a 28yo the fmc had a maturity level on par with a 16yo. her default was hating everyone and running away, and while sometimes that was warranted, sometimes it was... not. i got whiplash with her mood swings. she needed to sit down and actually use her brain and think things through sometimes.

the worldbuilding was also lacking. i'm so sorry but i had no idea what was happening, out of nowhere this gang became a massive plot point having never been mentioned before, and then monsters appeared out of the blue?? and i guessed 99% of the plot twists, even while skimming - and my brain was not working its hardest.

also where was the romance. they fucked, hated each other (uncertain why), liked each other, fucked again, tried to kill each other, declared that they'd fallen for each other?? WHEN. HOW.

also the author had opinions on sex work that i disagreed with, and showed a fair bit of fatphobia in this book.

basically this one was not for me. nonetheless, i thank the author, publisher and netgalley for the arc.

[charlene ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars  

★★★★☆

I find that a good parameter of an exciting and fun book is when you sacrifice something to continue reading; your time, your hunger, your basic needs. Blood Queen was an exciting romantasy book that hooked me from the start and refused to let me go.

At 23, Layla's parents, the king and queen of the kingdom, are murdered in their beds. At 28, still haunted by their murder, has barely given thought to running her kingdom Kusmal. She simply spends her time slinking in the shadows of her kingdom, assassinating supposed 'threats', and trying to find out the culprits involved in her parents murder. She leaves the running of the country, to her advisor, Brandt.

One of her parents last wishes was her marriage agreement with a neighbouring kingdom. In a way to honour her parents, Layla agrees to continue with this arranged marriage, to a man she has never met.

As Layla finally begins to open her eyes on the inner workings of her country, she discovers far more than she anticipates. Uncovering the numerous secrets and deceptions was thrilling, and reading Layla get immersed in the conspiracies within her country was a great way to introduce the world, the players and the dangers she has to navigate. Layla's trust in others was constantly challenged and reading the unravelling of her world view was a tense affair, filled with bloody action scenes and angsty romance scenes.

"You're mine. No one fucks with what's mine."

The dynamic between Rune and Layla was a highlight of the book. The world-building was confusing and adding the conspiracies with secret organisations, different royal families, rebel factions and secret drug-running operations, it was all very complex and muddled. Rune and Layla's arranged marriage turned lovers-to-enemies-to-allies was very sexy, sometimes funny and a little too unstable. It was very hot-and-cold-and-hot again for my taste.

"Are you seriously jealous of a fake husband? After you tried to kill me?"

The predictability of the plot is a common critique I am seeing, and agree with. I found that I don't mind it as much when I am enjoying the story too much to care. The fantasy and action elements, as well as the romance, outweighed the pitfalls I found in the world-building, and the predictability.

"there was a part of me that realised his darkness matched my darkness."

I find that I sympathise with Layla. I too aim to avoid things that are difficult and painful. I am the queen of procrastinating. I love sticking my head in the sand and letting the world go by. However, I have no one relying on me. I am unmarried, with no kids. I imagine in some sense, a kingdom full of people who, in some respects, are like your children. like your children. You need to nurture, and care, as well as respect them. Give them the tools, and the help to prosper by themselves. Layla has chosen to avoid her entire job of being the Queen, protecting her people and making the country prosper. She is allowed to grieve, but there must come a time the grieving period is detrimental to all, including her. Layla passed that, and more. She has no knowledge of the workings of her country and others have noted and exploited that. Her people can tell she is a pawn Queen, simply a figurehead, and they all hear whispers of her propensity to murder her citizens for no reason. Under the cover of darkness, Layla goes out and assassinates others, but she believes that there are justifiable reasons for these deaths. With such animosity growing among her citizens, I doubt telling them her supposed reasons will sway their opinion of her. Her actions speak louder than her words, and unfortunately, she doesn't speak to the public at all, so her actions are the only thing that they know, and can judge her for. And they do. As do I.

"Yes, you're both terrible people with too many knives."

Layla had flashes of brilliance, like uncovering the secret meeting, or the dock-working stint, but I found her decision skills lacking and the ease that many people were able to manipulate her concerning.

Blood Queen was a spicy romantasy that was a great end to the year 2023. It was a dark fantasy with an arranged marriage, royalty, conspiracies, betrayals, secret identities and a cliffhanger ending that made me scream and demand for book 2.

Would I recommend this book?
Big yes. I loved this book. I inhaled the entire book in a day and I want more.

Will I re-read this book/series? 
Yes, I would re-read this book. I am excited for the next in the series and would love to re-read this one just before the next is released.



✧ 7th November ✧

I received this ARC today and I picked it up immediately. It did not disappoint!!!

It was spicy
It’s was bloody
It was exactly what I wanted and left me screaming for book 2!!
*chefs kiss*

As soon as I received this ARC, I devoured it. I was simply ensnared and it refused to let me go until the very end. I read this book in one night.

☞ content warnings: *contains spoilers*
animal attack, animal injury, alcohol consumption, arranged marriage, blood & gore depiction, captivity & confinement, child abuse, dead bodies, death of a friend, death of a parent, depression, grief & loss depiction, knife & sword violence, murder & attempted murder, physical assault, physical injuries, poisoning, poverty, sexism & misogyny, sexual assault, sexual harassment, suicidal ideation, torture, war themes.
.

** I received this ARC by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an honest review **

I also posted my review on my blog ✿

Blog ✿ Goodreads ✿ Twitter ✿ Instagram ✿ Pinterest ✿ StoryGraph ✿ Discovery ✿ 

[Yves V.H. [Slow reading] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Layla, as she unravels the truth behind her parents' death and the mysterious things happening in her kingdom, became a stronger character in this book. She is not the type of queen that could be manipulated. I actually think she is quite a badass when she finally grew up and learned how to fight.

Rune is also an interesting character although I think he kind of needs to learn how to manage his emotions; he react very intensly in some situations. Yet, he has been very supportive of Layla throughout her trying to uncover the mysteries surrounding her kingdom.

The twist in this story was kind of predictable but the way it was revealed still caught my interest. The villain in this story made me feel disgusted of them. I literally had to close the app where I read and let my emotions calm down. That villain is an awful being. Entirely, the whole story is amazing. There was no boring moment and is definitely a page turner. Something I would recommend if you want romantasy, sprinkled with spice, and interesting royal storyline.

🌸 Recieved a copy from the author but all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Kaylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

** First, I want to thank the author for allowing me to receive an ARC copy of the book for an honest review **

Rating 3-3.5/5 (I felt like the first half of the book was strong, but the second part felt rushed)
Spice 🌶️🌶️/5

Tropes
✵Touch her and ☠️
✵Arranged Marriage
✵Lovers to Enemies to Allies
✵Dark Romantasy
✵Secret Identities
✵Cliffhanger ending
✵Morally Gray FMC


They called me the Blood Queen. I was known as the most ruthless, bloodthirsty queen in all of Esfer"
This book had me hooked from the moment I started reading it! I felt like some of the plot twists were predictable; however, it did not take away from my enjoyment while reading. The book has spice, mystery, fantasy elements, and action. The character arc of Lyla, the FMC, seemed well thought out and highly enjoyable. I struggled with Rune's character as he seemed less thought out - there were instances when I thought I was reading about two separate characters. In all honesty, Rune's character felt dull and annoying rather than being a strong contender for Lyla.

The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book!

You're mine. No one fucks with what's mine."

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. (This was the 1000th book I've read! Or probably more accurate to say, it's the 1000th book I've marked as "read" on Goodreads.)

Noooooo no no no no it can't end like that!!! I need Book 2 right now!

This book was so good!! I am fully invested in this story. Layla was such an amazing FMC. She was strong, a bit dark, and didn't take sh** from anyone.

The MMC, Rune, starts off strong and dominant, but quickly becomes Layla's follower almost, trailing her around and doing what she says. At the beginning he's all "I want you to submit to me." and then that dominant personality just decreases more and more as the book goes on. The occasional dirty talk was good, but a smidge more spice would have been good to back it up.

I cannot wait for the next book!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

" I told you. I’m the one in control. Not you "

Tropes:
🐦‍⬛ One night stand
🐦‍⬛ Secrets & Betrayals
🐦‍⬛ Stabby FMC
🐦‍⬛ Enemies to Lovers
🐦‍⬛ Secret Identity
🐦‍⬛ Human ~ Animal bond

After losing her parents, the King and queen of Kusmal, Layla is set to be the new queen.
With a reputation as the blood queen, who’s rumored to bathe in her victims blood to stay young, she has a secret identity she uses to sneak up at night and live a little.
On the night before her betrothal to the prince of Garo, she sneaks out to enjoy herself one last time, ending up in the arms of a gorgeous and mysterious stranger…


The story had very interesting elements. The soul shard aspect and the way they communicate was truly intriguing especially the bond between Layla and Keir.

I liked Layla’s complex character, her stabby and biting side, and the other, the one who’s still grieving her parents and wants to be a great ruler for her people. The power dynamics between her an Rune was really interesting to see.

Overall, it was a fun and enjoyable read, but I wished there was more world building and background to it.

[Jess Palacios · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book review: Blood Queen
⭐️: 5 of 5
🌶️: 4 of 5
📚: 341 pages
QUOTE: ''But I don't let him be my savior. I was the hero of my own story”

Read it if you like:
✔️ Arranged marriage
✔️ Vigilante shadow queen
✔️ Mysterious alpha MMC
✔️ Touch her & D!3
✔️ Political intrigue
✔️ Secret identities

BLURB: ''She may be called the Blood Queen, but Layla will do anything for her kingdom's peace. She struggles to live up to the expectations her parents had of her. Whispers of rebellion and dissent grow daily, and a murderer stalks the townspeople. In agreeing to marry a foreign prince, she hopes to find a way to bring stability back to the land. But on the eve of her betrothal's arrival, she sneaks away and enjoys one last passionate night with a stranger and doing so threatens everything her parents laid out for her. As more lies come to the surface, Layla will do whatever it takes to keep her kingdom safe—even murder.''

<3 I must warn you: This book is addictive! I've read in two days because I needed to know what was going to happen next. Layla (FMC) is an absolutely force of nature and is beautiful to see her character development while she goes through some discoveries that shakes her entire world. All while Rune is such a mysterious character and we don't know what's actually going on in his mind but we feel completely captivated by him. This book has everything: romance, drama, political schemes, spicy scenes and plot twists that will blow your mind. I LOVED it and can't wait for book two!

[Aisling · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can’t finish this. This book has so much misogyny in it that I am worried for the author. Her opinions on sex work, the not so subtle slut shaming and “dominant man in bed” at the start are just some of it. I love some degradation and dominance in books but this isn’t giving that.The first sex scene feels like its going to end in abuse, he’s being ‘dominant’ but in a way that makes me think this author has never read about or experience safe BDSM practices. Everyone, including Rune, also slut shame Layla for sleeping with Rune prior to them meeting each other, when she’s the queen rather than the night before when she’s disguised. But no one has any issue with him sleeping with her the day before they meet.

I want to go slightly more in depth on my issues with the way sex work and sex workers are described and discussed in this book. I have studied this heavily as part of my criminology degree. She talks about the women “selling their bodies” due to addiction and trying to eradicate the profession through social welfare programmes (painting her as some kind of saint or something, a common theme in this book). Both these ideas are very wrong. Sex work may sometimes be a result of trafficking but not generally. It is a real and chosen profession done by many, not just women. While there are issues with sex work and treatment of sex workers many of these are actually due to the criminalisation and stigmatisation of it! This view of sex work is incredibly misogynistic, basically saying that all sex workers are brainwashed and not listening to the people doing sex work who almost entirely disagree. If you have heard of TERFs there are also SWERFs, none of which are actually feminists but this gives you an idea of how gross this view is.

I also have a problem with the inconsistency in the characters. Layla, the blood queen, and Rune are both so different from page to page and when you compare their actions to their words. This is trying so hard to paint the queen as a gracious and kind leader, like moving the servants to guest quarters that are fancy rather than the cold servant ones. But it’s so inconsistent with how she talks about everything else that it just feels false. She’s also meant to be 28 but reads as early 20s at most.

There was very little about this book that is good, maybe there is more later on but I will not be finding out.

[Reece]

ARC from NetGalley

DNF @12%

I can't really rate this since I barely read it. It's just.. there are too many errors, it's right aligned, it's all in fucking italics, and it's not interesting.

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the possibility to read and review this ARC.

I found Blood Queen to be a really fast-paced and enjoyable book. It's one of those books that has kept intrigued since page one. Layla, the FMC, is more than your average queen and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her kingdom safe. Tune, the MMC, is your typical morally grey MMC, which I don't mind at all. They had great chemistry. My objection was the depth of their relationship, somehow it feels based more on passion than deeper feelings. Still, I am waiting to see how the story progresses further.

[Lana | Libraryofabibliotaph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly, this book turned out to be not my cup of tea. There were a bit too many inconsistencies and things that didn't flow right with the story in my opinion. The general development of both characters and story could have been handled differently as well. I really had to push myself through to keep on reading, partly because of the very immature characters. Nevertheless it reads very fluently once you put yourself to it and has an interesting magic system that I would have liked to see more of.
2,5/5 ⭐

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. My opinion is and remains my own.

[Lil Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

*side note that I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Ohhh this book! The enemies, the romance, the twists and turns-! I love love love a strong female lead, and it delivered! And the plot twist at the end had me yelling. The cliffhanger was done beautifully- and I’m not so patiently waiting for a book two!
Now the reasons it’s not a 5star- the world building could’ve been done a bit better, there were things unexplained or not built well IMO- and I loved the main character- when I forgot her age- when I reminded myself that she was supposed to be in her late 20s, it reduced enjoyment- the main character came off as late teens instead often, and it took away some enjoyment-

[Elsa L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Layla was my favorite part of this book. She is a queen with bad reputation and everyone believes her to be a murderer but that is far from the truth. She protects her kingdom from what she thinks it’s danger. She is still seeking revenge for her parents murder. I liked how she creates Lia and has a pretty simple life even though dhe us the blood queen.

Now, I think Rune has some polishing needed. At the start of the book I liked him much but I wish we got to see him more as the leader we know he is and less following Layla.

Much praise to that cliffhanger ending, need to know what comes next ASAP

[erikoreads]

Just cleaning up my “currently reading”. It’s been months, I haven’t picked up this book again, and I don’t know if/when I will.

Got to 49% and that’s probably all I’ll be able to read of this book. Why did I stop reading? I can barely remember I was reading this book so I imagine I wasn’t invested in the characters, the plot or the vibes of the book.

[Colleen Boehm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down!!! Murder, romance, magic, animal sidekicks, betrayal, it's all in there. If you like romance and fantasy then this book is a must have. From page one you are drawn into the world of Esfer and entangled in Layla's life. Her struggles after the loss of her parents, her trying to find her own way and be a queen that would make them proud. She learns the old saying keep yours friends close and your enemies closer isn't as cut and dry as it seems when you don't even know who your enemies are. It's a beautiful mix of spice, plot, mystery, and action that will leave you on the edge of your seat. This was my first ARC read and I want to thank Caitlin Denman for allowing me the chance to read this wonderful story.

[Liberty Tindall-Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book last night when I first got accepted on NetGalley and I have not put it down since.

The perfect combination of spice, fantasy, romance and action.

The first couple of chapters I thought were a little predictable but then I was hooked on the twists and turns throughout. Now I’m excited to find out what happens next in the reign.

It’s an easy read, not too long but plenty of story and action!

The first book I have read of Caitlin Denman but certainly will be taking a look at her other published work.

[Lara R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time with this book to be honest.
The story sounds promising and has a lot of potential, but the MCs were absolutely not for me.

Layla comes across more like a teenager than an adult woman and Rune didn't seem much more grown-up to me than her.
Their relationship just didn't work me, although I really liked the idea of them meeting (🌶😉) without knowing each other before the official introduction.

The cliffhanger was well executed though.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lisa Maxey · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! Haven’t read a book this fast in awhile. This (arc) book was really well written and I loved how Caitlin just sucked you into feeling so much for the characters. 3 on the 🌶️🌶️🌶️ level over all..



MFC Layla is just so caught up on who murdered her parents that she can’t see the betrayal at her footsteps. Faced with an arranged marriage that her parents had done before they were murdered, she has one last fling before she is to meet her betrothed. Well that turned out 🌶️🌶️. In the meantime her kingdom hates her for doing an honorable deed and gets a bad rep for it. Typical lol. Anyways… she struggles with the prince she’s suppose to marry while finding out she’s a lousy queen who wants to make things right at the end and realizes that even tho she wants to kill the prince she loves him. Also she’s betrayed by a close person. Oh dd I say that the author leaves you on a cliff hanger????
You know what… just read it ❤️

[Brenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blood Queen by Caitlin Denman was not for me. I DNF'd at 60% and even that was a struggle to get through.

Layla's parents died 5 years ago, murdered in their beds. No one knows how it happened and Layla has been plagued ever since, refusing to take on full responsibility of the throne. Instead her parent's advisor, Brandt, helps Layla run her kingdom, while she takes care of threats behind the scenes. How does she take care of them? Murder, of course. The one her citizens saw, spur of the moment to save a girl, is the one she is known for, giving her the title of Blood Queen. A title she hates, despite her extracurriculars.

Layla is set to meet her betrothed, a prince from a nearby kingdom. She needs one night of fun first, one free from her responsibility. Too bad that was a huge mistake, one her trusty soul shard, a crow who carries a piece of her with him, warned her against. Now, Layla must rescue her kingdom from a drug that's taken over, get to know her future husband, and discover that which was hidden under her own nose.

Two words accurately describe this book for me: repetitive and inconsistent. Descriptions of things like soul shards or the color of Layla's hair were laid out multiple times and overexplained. Interactions between the characters did not feel natural and it felt like personalities would switch from scene to scene. A lot of things just felt out of place as well, with Layla's inner monologue often feeling like a disjointed 16 year old, unsure of herself, rather than a woman of almost 30.

1.5/5 stars: The idea of the story is there, and it has potential to be good but needs a lot of work. This would be good for people looking for a quick fantasy read with moderate spice and an enemy to lover trope.

CW: drug use, sexual content, death, violence, child abuse

Thank you to NetGalley, Caitlin Denman, and the publisher for providing an eARC. The opinions within this review are my own.

[Kristie Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Queen was the story of a girl who doesn't need any man to save her, but will allow him to tag along as eye candy anyway. I loved this, so, so much. I knew someone was betraying Layla from early on, and I was very suspicious of Rune, especially with his change of character from their first night to the next morning. But holy crap, I did NOT expect the reveal at the end, and that cliffhanger, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!

[Kamryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

**ARC review** To be honest I really wanted to like this book. The description seemed to be right up my alley. However, I could not get past the attitude of the main character enough to have much of an opinion on the story and the world building. The main character behaved like a teenage protagonist. I actually forgot that she is in her mid-late 20s. She also just was unnecessarily rude and judgemental specifically to sex workers and plus sized characters. She unnecessarily at one point thinks to herself that a waitress "Looks like she enjoys the taste of her own food". Comments like that mixed with how often the character describes herself as thin or her clothes tight fitting just gave me the ick early on. At first I wondered if she was meant to be unlikable and would maybe grow, but I did not get the impression that was the intended goal.

Now onto the story itself. I think for me the pacing of this book felt a little off. I think the author had a very interesting idea but some things were lost in the execution of this novel. The countries and goals were a bit hard to follow. We start off knowing that the main character has been trying to get vengeance for her family, but we aren't told where these ppl she's killing are from or why she even suspects them. Also the magic in this world is not explained much either.

Next the romance in this novel left me wanting more connection. The relationship between the two is definitely trying to be enemies to lovers, but there is no real reason for the enemies part. We're even told early on their kingdoms are essentially at peace. But both characters run hot and cold back and forth for each other with little reason.

Overall, this book is not one I would pick up to read again. It felt a little unfinished like more could be built upon. However, I do think the idea had potential, and this is a new author. With that in mind I do think this author is one to keep an eye on and I am interested in seeing what they write next.

[Coral · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ebook provided by NetGalley for my review.

DNF at 57% - this was pretty bad. It needs editing, the syntax, sentence structure, and grammar made this seem unprofessional. Sentences were short, choppy, and repetitive. The main character had no consistent logic or even motivations for her different choices. The characters and the writing were immature and needed development. There also didn’t seem to be any plot or pacing, just bouncing to “Brandt betrayed me! No Rune betrayed me!” back and forth, over and over again.

[Coral · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ebook provided by NetGalley for my review.

DNF at 57% - this was pretty bad. It needs editing, the syntax, sentence structure, and grammar made this seem unprofessional. Sentences were short, choppy, and repetitive. The main character had no consistent logic or even motivations for her different choices. The characters and the writing were immature and needed development. There also didn’t seem to be any plot or pacing, just bouncing to “Brandt betrayed me! No Rune betrayed me!” back and forth, over and over again.

[Sarah | Retro Girl Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Blood Queen” is Caitlin Denman’s latest book, and I have to say it was a really good start to a new series! Layla is known as the Blood Queen because she once violently murdered someone in front of her subjects - and nobody but her knew about the bad things that person did. I thought this was a really interesting book, and I was intrigued by Layla’s confidence and brutality; she is definitely not a damsel in distress. She also had no impulse control, which made certain scenes even more dramatic. I also really liked Rune, Layla’s betrothed. He was very charismatic and protective, and I loved that he was just as ruthless as Layla when the situation called for it. The ending was such a shocker, too…. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Okay first of all, the cliff hanger at the end of this work was just beyond cruel and had me pondering like at 1am 😂

However, I loved Layla, she was the definition of an independent woman in this book who graciously allowed a man to tag along. This fantasy work has magic, and world building but thankfully without the heavy confusion of new magic systems, races, tiers, and more that is known to accompany fantasy works.

Unraveling the character of Layla as she strives to take over her kingdom while navigating the relationships around her made for an engrossing read which I highly recommend.

4⭐️ from me easily!

[Ashley Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good story about a strong female character taking action of her own without needing or seeking a man!
Queen Layla is that woman!
Seeking answers and solving problems her damn self!

Rune I wanted to truly like from the beginning but need some more. He was kind of a rollercoaster character for me… up and down. Hard to really invest in.

I was drawn in immediately to this story with ending leaving me wanting more…
Ready for book 2!!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Alex | alexs.magical.library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Queen 
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚ᎪᏒᏟ ᏒᎬᏉᎥᎬᎳ📚

Another great read for the year!! I really enjoyed this fantasy-romance and it's perfect if you’re looking for something easy to read and fast-paced. 

Caitlin’s world building was very intriguing and unique. I loved the idea of introducing different magical components into the story, by way of only royals having magical abilities and certain characters having animal companions called “soul shards.” It was great seeing some of the personalities and actions that came from the soul shards and having them be different genders from their humans actually surprised me. It made the connection between soul shard/character more personal and intimate though. Keir, our FMC Layla’s soul shard, added a nice layer of comedy, banter and wisdom for Layla's character. Our MMC Rune’s soul shard introduction actually surprised me but I loved the personal touch she added for his charcter as well. 

I liked the interactions and banter between the FMC & MMC but just wished there would have been more of both between these two. Layla, our FMC, understandably spends a lot of most of the book with hot to cold tendencies toward Rune and who she can trust in the kingdom so it didn't leave a lot of room for talking and getting to know one another but the SPICE was on point. Their personalities are great though; both fiery, short-tempered and they both share a similar personal darkness. I can't wait to see more of the character development and heat between these too. 

The only reason i gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars was because i felt like Rune’s background and/or personality had one too many holes it in and i wish the story would have slowed down just a bit in some of these situations so that he wasn't left so mysterious the whole book but hopefully we will find out more about him in Book 2. 

Caitlin did a great job leaving little hints of twists and secrets throughout the book like a worm on a hook but really - the secrets, the betrayal, the deception, the twists and turns of some of the characters…..had me shocked - mouth hanging open, loudly gasping at my kindle, COMPLETE  SHOCK!! I never would have guessed at some of the twists in this story and THE ENDING….. 💥 CLIFFHANGER, making you hate the words THE END!! 

[Myanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Caitlin Denman for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

Review- 3.4 stars *Spoiler Free*

“There was a part of me that realized his darkness matched my darkness.”

Blood Queen throws us into a world of corruption, betrayal, and gray morals. From the start, we feel the hurt that Layla has been raised in. We see how it shaped her and her beliefs, and sets the story up for an adventure. Blood Queen has a plot that takes you through Layla’s kingdom, meeting fun side characters and the dark corners of the kingdom that would rather stay hidden.

The plot had a lot of moving parts that sometimes felt a bit disconnected, but might be brought together in the next installment. If all the ties and plot points come together eventually, this could be a great series! Right now I feel a bit confused as to the direction we were trying to go since there was so much happening around Layla. I would love to hear more about the politics and workings of the other kingdoms as well, I think it would add so much depth to the world!

The magic system was there, but did feel a little vague. There might be more for us to learn in the next book! I felt confused at some points, like the magic system might be shifting or filling out to make the plot continue in the correct direction- but it was interesting regardless.

The character interactions were touch and go sometimes- I loved the sarcasm and banter between the main characters, it always lightened the mood at the right time or made the tension between the two more palpable. I think that with more interaction and secrets shared, the characters would have even more depth and chemistry! I enjoyed the commentary from Layla’s companion, he was snarky and always spoke his mind which I love.

If you are looking for

-Enemies - to - Lovers
-Touch her and die
-Spicy
-Secret Identities
-Arranged marriage

Then Blood Queen is a great world to visit!

[Julie-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Seems like a lot of people think the worst of me, but I perpetuated that persona. I let people fear me."

💕 I received this ARC by Victory Editing NetGalley in exchange for an honest review 💕

3.5 ⭐️rounded up to 4 stars.

The premise is what really grabbed my attention as who doesn’t love blood thirsty queens in a fantasy setting? Layla sounded like an interesting FMC and I can say that she definitely lives up to it!

We meet Layla five years after her parents’ death on the eve of her betrothal’s arrival. She wants one last passionate night with a stranger, but things certainly get turned upside down very quickly when the next day it turns out that the very man she enjoyed the night with is actually her betrothed. I absolutely loved the immediate conflict this created, although I do feel like the pure hatred was a bit of an overreaction at times throughout the story.

I enjoyed that the magic system is interesting and different from typical fantasy books in that only royalty (ones born into, not married into) has access to powers and has power/soul shards which show as animal companions like Layla’s crow, Keir. I really liked this touch as it’s very different to other books I’ve read and I think it lends itself to potential exploration later in the series.

Unfortunately, I did find a lot of the plot and twists very predictable. That being said, this didn’t stop me from enjoying the book, though I would have enjoyed a twist I didn’t see coming. Parts of the story were quite forgettable sadly due to this and the pacing certainly felt very rushed at the end of the book which always frustrates me as a reader. Although I definitely saw it coming, I appreciated the twist at the end and the cliff-hanger certainly left me reeling. I’m excited to pick up the sequel once it’s out as the story really does intrigue me.

[Tijana Jovicevic · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5* I received this ARC by Victory Editing NetGalley in exchange for an honest review 🖤
I was drawn by the trifecta of: great title, gorgeous cover and plot summary! So I was very excited when I got the ARC! Getting to read an author’s work before it’s published is one the more gratifying and exciting aspects or being a reader and I’m always so grateful for the opportunity!
I have a bit of a mixed feelings situation going with this one. The characters are great, Layla is a strong, fearless queen ready to take on the world but sensitive enough to not loose sight of what’s most important to her. This is one her greatest qualities, one that keeps her going through hardships and betrayals.
Rune, I mean what’s not to like about him? Starting with his sexy name, demeanor and all around strong, loyal, morally gray and protective personality. He’s a match for Layla is every way that counts
The plots baseline is strong and I enjoyed getting through it for the most part. I had a bit of a hard time with the flow at times, feeling like the moods swung a bit too much and I couldn’t really keep up from one decision to the next. The modern undertone that follows the whole story is something that I wished was not present, made some situations stand out in the way that they didn’t feel like they belonged in the time the story was set. This does not necessarily harm the plot or writing, it’s just a personal preference I suppose, or maybe it was just the amount of fantasy and contemporary books I’ve read recently that have tainted my read 🥹
I see all the ways that this books turns into a thrilling series that takes us into new yet familiar adventures we love as romantasy readers and I’m looking forward to getting back to it and seeing what comes next!