Her Blood Revenge

Crimson Covenant #2

by M.J. Lawrie

They stole me. Saved me. And then they betrayed me.
Now, my three monsters have made it brutally clear that they never intend to let me go.

I have three sexy-as-hell, bloodthirsty witch killers determined to make me love them even though they broke my mind, body and heart into a million pieces.
They are the reason the blood queen is back, and she’s determined to restart a war that almost destroyed us all.
Her dark army has resurfaced.
My ex has joined her ranks, determined to make me pay for what I did to him.
And for some reason, they need me to achieve whatever dark desires they have planned.

My blood magic is growing stronger and taking on a life of its own. Almost as if something is calling to it. Something dark and ancient. It makes me powerful, but the stronger I get, the less of my soul there is.

Strangely, I’m okay with that.

My captors, however, are determined to save my soul and prove that I’m where I belong.
With them. In love. And the most powerful earth witch I can be.
But I’m a monster of their making.
A monster with teeth and a taste for their blood. A monster that wants revenge and is willing to do anything to get it.

Even sell my soul to the darkness calling out to me.

The lines between love, lust and hate are furiously blurred between us all.
But creatures like us don’t know how to love.

So, game on, my beautiful monsters.
Your pixie is out for blood.

Her Blood Revenge is Book Two of the Crimson Covenant series. It's a dark, enemies to lovers, why choose romance full of magic, danger, passion, and pain.

*Please Note: This is a reverse harem book and contains explicit content and darker elements, including mature language, abduction, violence, torture, SA and dubious consent.
It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. For full trigger warnings, see the author's website.

Genres: Fantasy, Dark, Why Choose, Paranormal, Vampires, Dark Romance, Romance

439 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2024

About the author

MJ Lawrie has always had a love for storytelling. Formerly a film student, she started writing her debut series, The Last Witch, shortly after the birth of her first baby. Driven mad by the boredom of nap times and avoiding housework at all costs, she decided to finally get to work on her lifelong dream of writing a book. A true lover of fantasy, dark romance and thriller fiction, she's combined the three and poured her unusual imagination into the creation of characters that you love to hate and hate to love.

Follow her on Facebook :)
https://www.facebook.com/HelloMJLawrie

Reviews

[Julotlinde · Rating 1 out of 5]

After the first one, I did expect this to be bloody, but my oh my, I did not expect it to be this intense. This, of course, is completely subjective, but for me it was just too dark and too little romance. Also, the amount of r*pe in this book was crazy, it was also described in detail. But not only that, there was torture, murder and all sorts of horrible actions. Moreover, the writing was just not great? It felt rushed and like it did not have any secondary reading to check whether the flow was good. It was just not good, in my opinion, at all.

1,0 stars!

[T.P.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did have high hopes that the FMC will demand retribution, and to an extent she did in regard to her coven tormentors. However, the MMCs did not grovel enough. They simply stated they love her, she is theirs and that is it. There as a short period when she would not talk to them, but to me that was a very mild way of showing how she felt, not to mention that the next thing that happens she throws herself off n their arms.
I am disappointed as after all the hurt, betrayal and constant pain, I did want proper amendments to be made. Unfortunately, the male protagonists did not deliver here at all.

[Emily O'Leary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, yes, all the yes!!!

This book had me on the edge of my seat, and gave me whiplash multiple times with the twists and turns it took!

Ashe is back with a vengeance after the events of book one, and she's out for blood. Unfortunately, she's not the only one! Neve is our there, plotting something heinous, and our little Pixie no longer knows who she can trust, least of all the three men who showed her the world, just to rip it away from her.

They're not giving up without a fight, though.

Shadow-daddy Dorian, Dreamwalker Shaw, and Good-Boi Archie (my absolute favourite) are here to prove themselves and protect her above all - even if that means getting their hands dirty. Very, very dirty.

I loved seeing Ashe come into her own in this book, whilst still remaining true to herself. I still absolutely LOVE the Earth magic - I cannot express enough how much I love Earth magic and wish for more of it in books!

The plot was plotting, as always with MJ's books, and you never feel like you want to put it down from the minute you start to the minute you finish. The spice was spicing - I mean hot, damn, some of those scenes were delicious. And the characters? Ugh, yes, they're all so unique in their ways and I really feel there's an MMC here for everyone!

I mean honestly, if you like book one, or have enjoyed MJ's other books and have yet to dip your toes into this series, what on earth are you waiting for? This is your sign to pick it up!

Thank you again MJ for allowing me to be a part of your alpha team - it is forever a pleasure 😍❤️

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but it felt like a bit of a let down for me tbh.

The three guys are absolute scumbags for the most part, I think Archie is my favourite because he’s the least dickish and Dorian is middling at best, but Shaw can get in the bin.

A lot of what Ashe is credited with happens when she is possessed. So I don’t know if I’d call her the most powerful anything, she’s just a vessel and in the end she only gets the upper hand because she’s literally possessed by hel.

Also can someone please explain to me why she hasn’t gotten pregnant yet? I don’t remember if it was addressed in the first book, I read it in June, it she regularly allows the three of them to raw dog life and she never mentions a scare.

Anyways.

I felt like the story was a bit manic, a LOT happened and it was very dramatic, and the resolution for the four of them was a bit anticlimactic.

Ah well.

3/5

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh! This book had me hooked from the very start! This follow-up to Their Blood Rite was just as amazing, if not, maybe even more! The humor, banter, non-stop action, magic, trauma/healing, hurt/comfort, and delicious spice were all just phenomenal. There was such strong character growth in Pixie, each of the guys as well as all together . This book was a roller coaster of emotions, and I just devoured it up! Check the trigger warnings! This one was heavy 🖤

[Hennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, the writing itself is solid, with vivid descriptions and an intense atmosphere that pulls you into the dark, brutal world of the Crimson Covenant series. On the other hand, the pacing felt incredibly rushed. So much happened in such a short span that it felt like the story was crammed into a single book when it could have been spread out over another installment to allow for more depth and development. But alas ...

One of my biggest issues was the sheer number of rape. They were extremely graphic and overwhelming, to the point where it felt excessive. While dark themes are expected in this genre, the way these moments were written made them difficult to get through, and I wish there had been more balance in how the trauma was handled.

Overall, I can see why some readers might enjoy the intense, chaotic nature of the book, but for me, it felt like it needed more breathing room. If the story had been given more time to develop and the heavy elements were handled with a bit more care, it could have been a much stronger read. I’m giving it three stars—the writing was good, but the rushed pacing and overwhelming dark content made it a difficult read at times.

[Carrie O’Leary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so after book one, I went into this instalment with high expectations—and it didn’t disappoint. I loved every harrowing, twisted, spicy moment of it. I think all of us ladies need at least one of these morally grey men in our lives! Ashe certainly comes into her own in this book and has all three of her men wrapped around her pinkie finger. Together, the four of them have what it takes to face gods and monsters. I did not want to put the book down and was so disappointed when it came to an end.

Thank you so much M. J. Lawrie for letting this oldie onto your alpha team! It’s such an honour!

*** Edit 23rd May 2025. Just listened to the brilliantly narrated audiobook of this title. Thoroughly enjoyed it! ***

[Arcanine Patronus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know Ashe is a witch and she heals fast, and she's probably not going to get sick. But Archie going back and forth between anal and vaginal sex grosses the hell out of me. It completely takes me out of the story thinking of the horrible UTI she would get.

Other than that, great book.

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

So first off, so so sorry about how long this took to review (school yk🙄) but a big thank you to MJ for the advanced copy as always.

THIS BOOK🥵❤️💞

I LOVED THIS BOOK.

Was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Ashe, my girl Ashe, I LOVED her in book one, I LOVED HER EVEN more in this book. So badass, so much character growth throughout the book. She became so much more confident in herself and her abilities and that she could be happy. The trust she started showing her three men was amazing because it truly showed how much she overcame to get to that point.

I also loved all the growth the boys went through this book. Shaw really learnt to let Ashe be Ashe, not just always trying to control her. Dorian, oh Dorian, it’s always the quiet ones (iykyk🥵). He also experienced so much development by fully letting Ashe in and letting people see his true self. Now finally, ASHE, ASHE, my baby, my love (although my friend Emily may fight me for this), I AM OBSESSED WITH HIM 🐺💞The love he has for the little dysfunctional family that have is so lovely. And his love for Ashe and everything she does is amazing because she truly deserves it. These three boys grew and became everything Ashe needed and more.

The action and plot twists in this book were amazing and so well developed. MJ is amazing at creating amazing characters and plot lines and creating a beautiful storyline that people will want to come back to all the time.

Sorry again for the late review💞

[laughingzebra · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m taking this moment to create a whole new one-star category for myself. I typically save one stars for either cheating flags or temper tantrums. To be fair, that Venn diagram is mostly a circle.

But this falls into a new category that I’ll call Betrayal Without Payback.

I don’t think any explanation is needed honestly.

While cheating is a mega trigger for me, I can a) usually see it coming and can avoid it and b) I can immediately throw the book at a wall and be done with it.

This situation though? It wastes hours of my time.

I love a good betrayal *as long as the payback is balanced.* I also love dark romance, but the FMC must be strong enough to give as good as she gets. I think my most recent success in this category was the second trilogy (Aran’s) of the Psycho Shifter series. The MMCs are pretty irredeemable and I spent a lot of time being enraged. Aran doesn’t fall on the back foot though, and they pay for it, hard. Thats how you do it correctly.

This? This is just bullshit. I spent hours tolerating rage, trusting the author to deliver payback and groveling. Since she didn’t, now I’m enraged at the MMCs and the author. That rage has to go somewhere, so here it is. Expressing itself the only way it can.

With one star.

[Aubry Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sufficient HEA

After our FMCs weird regression in the first book, I was worried, but I hoped. I started this book for the sole reason of hoping her certainty would return. It did, and then some.

I have two complaints…

1. The godess Hel. Evil?! WTF. I get why she had to be for the plot, but like… it’s a fictional world. Make up your own goddess. Pick a different name. Don’t borrow a goddess from the real world and twist her until she’s unrecognizable. So disappointing.

2. Needed more Shaw. Dorian and Archie both got their time to shine, but Shaw was again glossed over. I was left craving more of the Dream Walker and left sorely disappointed. Their alone time was glossed over, and the chapters from his perspective were effectively just observing and reacting to the other males.

Sigh.

Still better. Glad I kept reading. I’ll probably read more from this author at some point.

[Em Yardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the *Crimson Covenant* duet is a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride that pulls you in from the first page. With a multi-POV, the story becomes even more dynamic, blending intense action with emotional depth. The M.J. Lawrie expertly breaks your heart, toys with your emotions, and delivers a satisfying happy ending.

The world-building is richly detailed, and the characters are easy to fall in love with. Ashe, the fierce earth/blood witch, commands attention with her rage and determination, while Shaw, the dream walker; Dorian, the shadow master ("shadow daddy"); and Archie, the sexy wolf shifter, each add unique layers to the story. Their growth, driven by their intense love for Ashe, creates some of the book's most memorable moments.

For dark, twisted romance, this book delivers on all fronts with its captivating characters and high stakes. The chemistry, intensity, and emotional payoff are undeniable, making it hard to put the book down. The only downside? It had to end.

I was given an ARC for my honest review

[Kinsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fantastic duet! The plot doesn’t slow down at all in this book. Start to finish it is so crazy and intense in a good way! I loved these characters. Pixie was such an amazing FMC. This is definitely one of my favorite reads of all time!

[Danielle "Ruby" · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Tay · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a chaotic, insane, story. give me more, now.

[Jenny Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author may promise a HEA in her books … but my god it takes us a while to get there. With many huge bumps along the way we finally got the the conclusion of this story where all the loose ends were tied up and a few surprises knocked you for six whilst you journeyed with Ashe and her 3 loves.

[Steph Werka · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/ 5 Stars
What a satisfying end to an interesting & emotional story. The magic was whimsical, the men were hot, the spice was spicy & the revenge was sweet. I will definitely be rereading this series at some point. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a dark story with satisfying revenge with lots of twists along the way!

[veetheworm · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is my take on the CAWPILE rating system from Book Roast over at youtube. Each of the sections will be rated out of 10 where each of the attributes/questions is 1 point. (Yes there is an extra 2 points per section to balance it out because not all books are "good" on the same sense)


1. Characters

[ ] Memorability – Do they leave a lasting impression?

[ ] Love-to-Hate Factor – Are they a compelling villain or antagonist?

[ ] Originality – Do they feel fresh, unique, or different from clichés?

[ ] Sympathy – Do readers feel for them or root for them?

[/] Emotional Range – Do they express a wide variety of emotions?

[ ] Motivations – Are their goals clear and believable?

[ ] Emotional Impact – Did they make you feel something deeply?

[ ] Balance of Roles – Are main, secondary, and background characters well-proportioned?

[ ] Character Dynamics – Do relationships and group interactions feel organic and meaningful?

[ ] Consistency of Voice – Do characters speak and act in ways that match their personalities and roles?

[/] Perspective Variety – Do we get insights from multiple viewpoints or experiences?

[ ] Use of Archetypes – Are classic character types (e.g., mentor, rebel) used creatively and effectively?

Characters: 1/10


2. Atmosphere

[X] Emotional Depth – Does the atmosphere evoke strong emotions in the reader?

[X] Sensory Detail – Are the sights, sounds, smells, and textures richly described?

[ ] World Believability – Does the world feel lived-in and real, even if it’s fantasy or surreal?

[ ] Temporal Atmosphere – Does the time period (past, future, timeless) feel authentic and immersive?

[ ] Environmental Influence – Does the setting impact characters, emotions, or plot?

[ ] Weather & Nature – Is the natural world used to set or reflect mood?

[ ] Atmosphere-Plot Alignment – Does the atmosphere match the pacing and stakes of the plot?

[ ] Immersiveness – Did you feel transported into the world?

[ ] Memorability – Does the atmosphere linger after finishing the book?

[ ] Regional Variation – Are different parts of the world differentiated (e.g., deserts vs. mountains vs. urban hubs)?

[ ] Uniqueness – Does the setting feel original or distinct from other books in the same genre?

[ ] Sense of Time Passing – Does the story reflect seasonal, generational, or historical changes?

Atmosphere: 2/10


3. Writing Style

[ ] Sentence Quality – Are the sentences artful, carefully constructed, and varied in rhythm and structure?

[ ] Figurative Language Use – Are metaphors, similes, symbolism, and imagery used meaningfully (not just decoratively)?

[ ] Layered Meaning – Do lines or scenes carry deeper significance than what’s on the surface?

[ ] Ambiguity or Open Interpretation – Does the writing allow space for reflection or multiple readings?

[ ] Symbolism – Are places, events, or objects used symbolically to reinforce themes or character arcs?

[ ] Distinctive Voice – Is the narrative voice unique, recognizable, or emotionally charged?

[ ] Risk-Taking – Does the author experiment with form, perspective, tense, tone, or style?

[ ] Unexpected Insight – Are there moments that reframe familiar ideas in unfamiliar or profound ways?

[ ] Intentional Structure – Is the form itself used as a narrative or thematic tool (e.g., fragmentation, nested stories)?

[ ] Pacing as Style – Is tempo deliberately used to create tension, reflection, discomfort, or immersion?

[ ] Memorability of Phrases – Are there lines that stay with you due to beauty, truth, or weight?

[ ] Demands on the Reader – Does it require patience, reflection, or rereading?

Writing Style: 0/10


4. Plot

[ ] Clarity of Structure – Is the plot clear and easy to follow? Or confusing and disjointed?

[ ] Conflict Quality – Are there compelling internal and external conflicts?

[X] Rising Stakes – Do stakes increase naturally as the story progresses?

[ ] Suspense & Curiosity – Does the plot keep you engaged and wanting to know what happens next?

[ ] Reversals– Are there believable twists, setbacks, or turning points?

[ ] Original Premise – Does the core idea of the plot feel fresh or inventive?

[ ] Subplots & Layers – Are there secondary storylines that enrich the main plot?

[ ] Hooks & Intrigue – Does the story capture your attention early on?

[ ] Surprise – Are there unexpected turns that still feel believable?

[ ] Character Subplots – Are side characters given storylines that contribute to the whole?

[ ] Layering & Weaving — Are multiple storylines interlaced smoothly and satisfyingly?

[ ] Why This Story? — Does the plot feel inevitable or necessary, not arbitrary?

Plot: 1/10


5. Logic

[ ] Internal Consistency – Do the rules, culture, geography, and history make sense within the book’s logic?

[X] Geographical Believability – Is the setting spatially coherent (maps, terrain, distance, etc.)?

[ ] Logical Flow – Do events follow a believable and natural sequence?

[ ] Cause and Effect – Are character actions and story consequences logically linked?

[ ] Character Consistency – Do characters act in ways that align with their established traits, history, and motivations?

[ ] Plausibility of Coincidences – Are coincidences rare, justified, or addressed as meaningful rather than lazy?

[ ] Emotional Logic – Do feelings (love, fear, grief, joy) drive decisions in ways that make psychological sense?

[ ] Reader Immersion Test – Does the logic hold up while reading, or only fall apart after you stop to question it?

[X] Narrative Honesty – Does the narrator or text “play fair” with readers, giving them enough clues without misleading?

[/] Chekhov’s Gun — Are elements introduced as important actually used meaningfully later?

[ ] Believability of Mistakes — When characters make poor choices, are those mistakes believable given their flaws, not contrived for drama?

[ ] Trust & Betrayal Logic — If characters betray or forgive each other, does it feel earned and consistent with their personalities?

Logic: 2.5/10


6. Enjoyment

[ ] Emotional Impact — Did the story evoke strong emotions (joy, sadness, excitement, suspense)?

[ ] Entertainment Value — Was the book fun, thrilling, or otherwise enjoyable to read?

[ ] Satisfaction of Resolution — Did the ending feel fulfilling or rewarding?

[ ] Re-readability — Would you want to read this book again?

[ ] Sense of Wonder or Awe — Did the book inspire curiosity or amazement?

[ ] First-Time Reading Experience — Would you like to relive the excitement or emotions of reading this book for the first time?

[ ] Recommendation Likelihood — Would you recommend the book to others, showing confidence in its enjoyment and value?

[ ] Regret or Discomfort — Did the book leave you feeling dissatisfied or uncomfortable enough that you wish you could undo the reading experience? (Mark if answer is no)

[ ] Desire to Continue — Would you want to keep reading if the story were longer or a series?

[ ] Emotional Attachment — Did you care about what happened to the characters?

[ ] Mood Match — Did the book’s mood fit your personal taste or current mood?

[ ] Narrative Voice Liking — Did the narrator’s voice add to your enjoyment?

Enjoyment: 0/10


7. Development

[ ] Foreshadowing & Setups – Are key events prepared for in earlier chapters?

[ ] Satisfying Climax – Does the story build toward a powerful and meaningful peak?

[/] Resolution Quality – Are the major storylines resolved (or intentionally left open)?

[ ] Deus ex Machina Avoidance – Does the resolution emerge from what has been established, not from a last-minute miracle?

[ ] Complexity Increase — Do characters gain depth and complexity as the story progresses?

[ ] Expansion — Does the worldbuilding grow richer or more detailed over time?

[ ] Point of View Shifts — If multiple POVs are used, do they develop distinctively and contribute meaningfully?

[ ] Pace of Growth — Is the timing of the character’s changes believable (not rushed or too slow)?

[ ] Transformation Significance — Is the character’s growth meaningful to the overall story or themes?

[ ] End State Comparison — How significantly different is the character at the end compared to the beginning, and is that change satisfying?

[ ] Subplot Relevance — Do subplots contribute to character development, themes, or main plot?

[ ] World Impact — Does the plot development affect the story’s world or setting in believable ways?

Development: .5/10



Total: 1/10


P.S.: I made this to fit my taste and what I look forward on a book. So this rating, it's completely subjective. I post this mostly with the intetion of keeping a record for future me an consistency throughout my ratings. Also to me a 5/10 is a good a enough rating... the average, I consider that my baseline if something is above that it means enjoyed it.

[Hannah]

This book had a few issues that stood out. While I still enjoyed the story overall, both the audiobook & ebook versions could definitely benefit from another round of editing.

I was a little confused with the Banshee storyline. In the first book, it was made clear she was in love with Shaw—this was the root of an important conflict between her & Ashe. In Her Blood Revenge, it suddenly states she was in love with Archie. I understand that the Banshee supposedly had history with all three guys, but her feelings were definitely directed at Shaw in book one. That’s why, when Ashe had to pretend to love Shaw for the human king’s summons, the idea of asking the Banshee to help with Ashe’s hair was shut down—they thought she’d shave Ashe bald out of jealousy. Shaw insisted she didn’t have those feelings for him, but the shared look between Ashe & Archie suggested otherwise.

I also noticed narrator slip-ups in chapters 9, 12, & 17—either the wrong words were used or the wrong character voice was applied. These moments pulled me out of the story a bit.

The intimate scene in chapter 10 didn’t quite make sense anatomically. I get this is fiction, but when characters are described as having human anatomy, things should still be physically possible. I even did some *ahem* research afterward & couldn’t find anything similar 😂

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy the female narrator for this series. She didn’t deliver the emotional depth needed in some key scenes. I much preferred Amy Putt, who narrated M.J. Lawrie’s earlier works.

That said, I DID enjoy the overall story. Lawrie’s writing still made me feel all the usual emotions I expect from her books. While editing & narration issues affected my final rating, I’m still looking forward to future books & Lawrie remains one of my top authors.

[GoldenEyeOfHorus · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

I enjoyed the first book and looked forward to the grovel and forming of an actual relationship (a real one, not abductors and abductee) but there wasn't any closeness or falling in love and getting to know each other.

The MMCs told her they loved her after betraying her, causing her death, etc., but all I could think was why. Why do they love her? They know a laundry list of the traumatic events she experienced in her early life but nothing else. The other things they know are from Shaw invading her dreams, without consent. So really, it seemed like the only thing they loved was her special blood and the sex. I need and expect more than that from the romances I read.

The grovel was not a grovel at all. They still commanded her against her will through their claim marks, still had a tether on her for most of the book, and they didn't seem particularly sorry, more so just tired of the FMC being angry at them. I hate that, the grovel has to be there if an author is going to do a betrayal based story.

"I'm sorry" and "I love you" is not a grovel. Sex is not a salve for crushing betrayal either.

I also don't like when a FMC is written as desperately desiring freedom and autonomy finds the MMC or MMCs and then throws all that out the window and is perfectly fine being treated like a prisoner and human fleshlight for eternity because 🧐 HOT MEN. 😞

I was also pretty disgusted with how bigoted the 3 MMCs continued to be towards witches even 80% into the book, when they are all in a relationship with a witch. Gross.

It doesn't sit well with me that a woman had to suffer endlessly from physical, magical, and sexual assaults for these 3 raggedy, woman and witch and child killing MMCs to get what they wanted all along from the breaking of their curses.

[Pageturner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted Ashe to punish the guys as the had wronged her and literally set off a chain of events that killed her and thousands of others. However a few weeks of silence was not quite enough for me.

Ashe as in the first book just suffers constantly being tortured and hunted at every turn.

Dorian the shadow master was an odd one for me I didn’t quite understand their bond.

Archie’s relationship was the easiest with Ashe becoming his mate was quite cute.

Shaw the dream walker just didn’t listen thought he knew best and throughly annoyed me however he didn’t give up and him wandering everywhere putting everyone to sleep at the end was very sweet.

[Dawn Cotterell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second read through, well actually I audiobooked this time.
I love the characters from this series , I adore the 3 main guys yes they have their faults but they get their shit together for pixie 😊

[Leslie R · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series needs more explicit content warnings. The FMC is raped with an object in graphic detail, on page, multiple times in book 2. Reader beware. What good are the MMCs if they can't prevent MULTIPLE rapes from happening to her?

[Luísa Faria · Rating 4 out of 5]

O primeiro livro é maravilho, esse eu achei desnecessariamente pesado 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I binged the first book and was so happy to be taken out of a long book slump. It was dark, but up until the very last 5% it was a 5 star read for me. (Even though I hated that male perpetuated purposefully-painful sex kept being called “fucking” instead of assault, like with Thalia and the knife).

I quickly started the second book and I’m just absolutely confused. It feels like the first book went through editing and beta readers while the second is a first draft?

There’s continuity issues: the Banshee was in love with Archie, but it book one is all of them but mostly Ronan. Archie even warns Ronan of her/its love and Ronan ignores. Now it’s about Archie ignoring?
There’s retcons: given the ending of book 1 left open room for more character introductions, we have a new person at the castle who’s apparently Important and was there the whole time but never named or mentioned. If there was a witch they trusted this whole time, why wasn’t he the one aquatinting Ashe to the castle?

Finally, the thing that made me put the book down — she was already forgiving them. We see her ignore them for one chapter, drunk and tortured in another, “hearing them out” (though forced) in the next, she meditates and now suddenly is moving on.

I just do not understand that. Ashe’s nightmares previously were of the failed “bled out by 200/300 cuts, then eternal burning.” She touches the mark from the man who was supposed to love her often, she quotes how it was X amount of stab wounds and she remembers all of them. She hides under the bed at the memories.

Now, at the end of book 1 she had to relive DAYS of the same, finished, torture to death by shallow cuts. Except the deaths she lives through are entirely done by the men who supposedly love her now, better than Cole — her worst nightmare is completed. Oh and let’s also add 2 other methods of torture to death. Her one friend in the castle is dead, and they’re keeping her familiar locked away when she needs someone in her corner. AND SHE JUST MOVES ON? They just push their way onto her like before and she just lets them. No grovel, just how they were in the right and they said sorry so she can forgive them now when she’s done her “tantrum”.

I’m disappointed and I feel like the character development was lost to add more room for blood play.

[*-The Pink Dahlia -* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blessedly, the second book was just was dark, deviant and brilliant as the first.

Perfect for fans of “From Blood and Ash” looking for something darker.

Ashe has been betrayed by the three males who she put her faith in.
And that has left her reeling. They won’t let her go. They still control her. They forced her to do something unthinkable, and it has wrecked her - body, mind and soul.

That’s fine. She’s a survivor. They want to keep her? They best be ready to deal with everything that means…

The king still demands that Shaw marries her before the first snow falls. Fat chance.
Neve is now missing, along with Cole.

And she is stuck with hate and vengeance in her heart, surrounded by three dickwads.

As they begin to unravel what Neve plans to do, what her role is, things become increasingly dire for all…witches and humans alike…

⭐️Plot: 5/5
🌶️ Spice: 4,5/5
📖 Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance
🏞️ Setting: Village/ Castles
🗣️ POV: Multiple
🛏️ Tropes:
- Reverse Harem
- Witches, Vampires, Gods and Goddesses
- MMFM (guys are not into each other)
- Enemies to lovers
- Touch her and Die…Gruesomely
- Vicious MMC’s
- Torture, abuse (read the TW’s)
- Trauma
- Vengeful Gods
- Shitty parents

The world building is pretty good and the magic system is unique.

What the author got right, was portraying males who are supposed to be very very old beings. They had this nonchalance about life, like they had seen it all, and that death was something they dished out with little to no thought. There was no reverence for life. They had no feelings before they met her and feeling ANYTHING was better than nothing.

This is pretty dark, if you’re squeamish at all, maybe steer clear…personally I loved it. But there is on page torture etc…so, just be safe.

This duo is really well written, fast paced, action packed, SUUUUUPER SPICY, and just fantastic all round.

[Moonflwr04 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review 55% through (will revisit):

I feel like I’m being generous with 3 stars.

Genuinely love our fmc, but goddamn girl, stand on business! These men do not love her! She should’ve made them suffer a lot longer than she did, but instead she just gets gaslit and threatened out of her anger.

The mmcs, on the other hand, I hate. Every time I get to their POVs, they’re calling her all sorts of names and comparing her to the blood sisters from hell. How many times does she have to prove herself to them when they haven’t even proven themselves once? Nothing they’ve done will amount to what she’s done for them, especially after she literally dies because of them in the first book.

Other than my grievances with the characters, I just felt like there wasn’t substance to this book. Just a whole lot of sex, abuse, and rape. At some point it becomes less of a plot and more of a filler to justify their continued debauchery. I can count the scenes on one hand where the mcs have a heartfelt moment without fucking.

The overused shock factor and sex scenes bring it down to four stars, but the barely veiled misogyny gets it down to three stars. I mean come on, not one female character aside from the ones raped and abused in the book are good? None of them? The blood goddess being evil and the earth god being good? The constant slut shaming of women other than the fmc? Whew! If you’re gonna use the constant abuse and torture of women as a plot device, the least you can do is paint them in a better light.

Maybe the last half of this book will prove me wrong though. We’ll see.

[nevedoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

guys. i was traumatized. speechless. spent. the roller-fuckin-coaster of emotions. my heart can’t take it
anymore. 10/10

‘And you own me!’ I roar, my shadows bristling at my back. ‘You fucking own me in every way one person can own another! My soul claws at my flesh to escape these mortal confinements, purely to feel the warmth of your skin. My head is filled with your needs and wants, banishing my own to a void. Your voice drowns out the dark thoughts. My body fits yours in a way that is beyond logic, and my heart beats your goddamned name in my chest.’ My fist thumps against my ribcage as I hear it even now. ‘It pounds in my ears every fucking minute of every fucking day. Every beat belongs to you and you alone. And when you’re not close, I burn. I literally burn. All I am demands you to be close, and when you are, I am at peace. I am whole.’

💁‍♀️ i left my sanity right fuckin here

‘If your version of love is letting you go, then I do not want nor need it. I will keep my love as I see fit. I will covet you as I wish. And I will fucking own you because you own me just as much. You refuse to let me be the dark monster I was born to be. You deny me the freedom to exist in a world where I can live without you. So you will not be granted the agony of my releasing you into a world where you are not loved. Where you are not safe. Where you are not worshipped and fucked and devoured by a body and soul you saw fit to save!’

and here.


side note: didn’t appreciate the sex scenes too much in this second book

[Ariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this duet however there were a few things that made it not a five star read.
First i really don’t like that the mmc’s would refer to the fmc as a “bitch” and one time they called her a “cow”. I just really didn’t like that, it really turned me off from reading when they did that.
Second, i didn’t love that they used that claiming mark as a way of dominating her when she is portrayed as this all powerful woman. it was okay at the beginning of the series when they weren’t in a love relationship yet and for instances when she was about to hurt herself, but when they used it to take away her decisions it irked me.
Third, and this didn’t take away from my reading experience it’s just a reason it’s not a five star from me because i like to see this in my five star reads. she didn’t have any friends, like she had her guys and that’s fine but it is reiterated multiple times that they don’t have the same power dynamic (even through she is a god) apparently these boys are still more powerful then her. so i like to see my fmcs have friends, she clearly needed some at the beginning of this book with the boys being absolute a holes. there was definitely a lack of lovable side characters that i like to see in my five star reads. i thought kirean and the banshee in the first book had potential (rip) and then leo and thalia in this book had potential but lack there of.
so overall i definitely had a good time but not a five star read so i will stay solid at 4.

[Bex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow just wow!!!
I was so lucky to be able to receive an arc copy of this book.

So firstly I want to say a huge thank you to M.J Lawrie.

This book is the second book in the Crimson Covenant series and I'm honestly heartbroken it's come to an end.
This book is just like it's first and that's amazing, gripping, well written and in parts down right dirty.... What's not to love?!

The world building and characters are on point. And it's hard not to fall in love with each and everyone of them... The four main characters are Ashe she is an earth/blood witch, Shaw he is a dream walker, Dorian he is a shadow master or shadow daddy as Ashe likes to call him and finally the very sexy Archie who is a wolf shifter (I have thing for shifter romance).

I could go on and on about this series, I could go on and on about this incredible Author too M.J Lawrie is seriously my favourite Author. I have read all her books and never been disappointed. Each one pulls you in and takes you on such a ride. I highly recommend this series and then I recommend you go and read all her previous books too.

Me... Well now I'm patiently waiting to see what comes next and I'm already excited.

Again I received an arc copy of this book and I'm beyond grateful that I did ❤️❤️