By Blood, Shadow, and Fire

by Orin Steele

Marked by gods. Hunted by fate. Bound to a warrior she shouldn’t want.

In a realm teetering on the edge of war, Islyn never asked to be chosen—by the gods, by destiny, or by the dangerously compelling warrior sworn to protect her. But power like hers doesn’t stay hidden for long. As ancient forces stir and enemies close in, she must navigate a world of secrets, shifting alliances, and a connection that burns hotter than it should.

Caught between duty and desire, Islyn has to decide who she can trust—and what she’s willing to become to survive.

By Blood, Shadow & Fire is a sweeping fantasy romance about fate, forbidden longing, and the kind of magic that demands everything.

Genres: Fantasy

Expected publication April 28, 2026

Reviews

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.


This story grabbed me immediately because of the prologue and for a debut novel, it’s perfect.

As the first installment, it has a really good start and the intrigue between gods and humans is strong. However, I think the plot began to focus solely on the bond between islyn and ferric. Which is fine but it became dull over time (i dont care for insta-love tropes but i understand it tied to the story here) and there is a lot of back and forth then it picks up later on.

The writing is very well done and I enjoyed its world building. The gods are dangerous and cunning so the role Islyn plays is intense but i really enjoyed her character. She doesn’t back down from the fight.

I am looking forward to her story in the next book because the ending was great and I love her feminine rage! 👌🏼🙂‍↔️

If you like:

- gods & monsters
- feminine rage
- forced proximity
- dual POV
- she’s stronger than him

[Fantasy features]

I received this book as an ARC via NetGalley.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is an immersive, fantastically detailed high fantasy book. The worldbuilding is epic. We’re given a codex at the beginning introducing the gods, their elemental powers, the lands, and the deities who reside in each realm, as well as a map — which immediately sets the tone for something big. It all feels very thought out and layered. The prologue is what really hooks you. It’s a fantastic way to build intrigue right from the start and makes you want to keep reading.

Islyn’s grief is the emotional core of the story and shapes so much of who she is. The loss of the life she could have had, if she hadn’t been born marked by the gods and hunted, really explains her rage and gives her depth beyond just being “chosen.” The pacing is on the slower side, but not in a bad way. It feels deliberate and very typical of high fantasy, where the focus is on building the world and laying the groundwork. There are quite a few side characters introduced who will likely become important later in the series, though it would have been nice to see more development from some of them in this first book.

Ferric, a general of one of the gods, is an interesting counterpart to Islyn. I’m excited to see how he continues to balance his sense of duty with his feelings for her. Both characters are likeable, layered, and clearly have more growth ahead of them. I would say this leans more into fated mates than slow-burn romance, but either way the pull between them kept me invested and eager to see them finally admit their feelings and act on it.

Overall, this feels like a strong start to a larger series. I’m very excited to follow Islyn and Ferric’s journey, both emotionally and physically, and I’ll definitely be continuing.

[itsliterary_emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Emrae publishing for the ARC 💕

I am honestly so impressed. I’m really lucky that I get to read a lot of ARCs, and not all of them hit but this one absolutely did. I am blown away that this is Orin’s first novel.

From the very beginning, I kept catching myself thinking, holy crap this is her debut? The writing is beautiful. The world building is lush and immersive, and some of the landscapes she created genuinely stuck with me. The magic system feels both unique and comfortably familiar. Gods, elemental powers (water, fire, earth), celestial forces like the moon and sun etc. it all blends together in a way that feels fun without being overwhelming.

I especially loved the inclusion of the Codex at the beginning. Not only did it introduce names, but it helped orient us in the world and understand the magic before diving in. As a reader, that makes such a difference. I don’t always love being thrown into chapter one with no context and expected to piece everything together on my own so this felt thoughtful and intentional. And opening with a dark, heavy prologue that clearly sets the tone?! I was hooked immediately.

You all know I can be picky about a female main character. I’ll be honest there were moments where she absolutely frustrated me. But what I appreciated so much is that by the end, she recognized her mistakes and owned them. That kind of character growth matters. I’ve read entire series where I’m six books in and still don’t connect with the FMC so seeing that self-awareness and development here really stood out.

Ferric was another highlight for me. A protective, steady MMC who would burn the world down for her 🤤Yes, please. But he wasn’t just protective, he had depth. His backstory added weight to his choices, and I really enjoyed the way he was written. For a debut author, crafting an MMC like that is seriously impressive.

If I had one piece of constructive feedback, it would be about the supporting cast. Outside of the two main characters, I didn’t feel like any secondary character fully stepped into the spotlight. There are several interesting side characters, especially her brothers, but I still have so many questions about Aleksi in particular. I would love to see those relationships and backstories explored more deeply in future installments.

The pacing did feel a little uneven in places especially around the 40–60% mark where things slowed down. However, once I reached the end, I understood why so much detail was layered in. The first book in a series always carries the heavy responsibility of building the foundation, and that takes space. The romance also leaned very slow-burn at first and then accelerated quickly once it shifted. In future books, a slightly smoother transition in pacing could elevate the story even more but importantly, there were no plot holes. When explanations were needed, they were handled clearly and thoughtfully.

Overall, I am genuinely impressed. This is such a strong debut, and it shows so much promise. I’m incredibly excited to see where this series goes next, because if this is the starting point? The future is bright.

Truly such an accomplishment for a first novel. 👏✨

P.S. I’m also slightly obsessed because the author was born in Michigan 💙💛

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4 for Goodreads’ system)

I am so conflicted on what to rate this book. I wanted to love it so much! Orin’s writing is beautiful, and I can absolutely see an amazing story here, but unfortunately, I just don’t think it quite made it onto the page.

Although it had a really strong start, nothing really seemed to happen throughout most of the book. I felt like 2/3 of it was just the two main characters going back and forth about whether they should let themselves be together or not and throwing tantrums when something didn’t go their way.

We meet a few great side characters, but we don’t get to know them at all, and most of them only appear for a few pages. Which is unfortunate, because they did really seem like they could have added to the story!

It’s interesting. I almost felt like things were cut out that maybe shouldn’t have been. There were moments in the story, especially in the first half or so, when the dialogue suggested something had already been discussed, but even going back through, I couldn’t find where. Even some of those side characters I mentioned, I felt like we were supposed to know more about them than we did. It gave the story a very disjointed feel, for sure.

I’m so frustrated. This book has a spark to it that not very many debut novels do! The writing drew me in instantly, and honestly, I fully expected this to be an easy five star read, just based on the writing style alone. I think that Orin Steele has an amazing natural talent!! As a debut author, I think she did a wonderful job with this book! A little more experience, and maybe a little bit more support from a good editor, I think we could have a truly incredible author on our hands. 🙌✨

[Andrea Galvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Occasionally readers are blessed with a debut author who sinks directly into your soul. Orin is that author. Her words are descriptive and build a stunning world ripe with layers of trauma and yearning. Islyn has always hid from the world but now she longs to know what she really is. Touched by the Gods, but hidden in cloaks of fear and pain, she must decide who she wants to be. Beyond the well written, multi-faceted female main character, Orin created something truly breathtaking. Her world varies by area but also blends seamlessly together as the characters move across the continent.

The realms of Gods intermingle and display elements of Greek, Roman, and other ancient mythologies. This principle of Gods gifting mortals with their touch at birth is very distinct depending on the God. Each God handles this gift differently as we learn early on. Islyn is a heartbroken, young woman who has walked through hell. She is willing to do anything to actually understand where she belongs. Orin gifted us with this story. I laughed, I cried, my jaw was on the floor. That ending had my heart pounding.

I cannot express my gratitude enough for being gifted this story to read early. I will shout Orin's praises from the rooftop and wait with bated breath for the rest of Islyn's story.

[Carly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! ✨

I don't know if you've been following Orin on any social media, but I've been anticipating this book for a WHILE now so when I got the email that I was getting an ARC I just about died.

Let me just start off with, this is not romance focused AND I AM HERE FOR IT. The fantasy is the focus and the world building is absolutely wonderful. You get to live in the world with our absolutely bad ass FMC Islyn because there's a great amount of detail and I love it.

Our FMC and MMC are so well done, I'm so obsessed with them. There is the smallest bit of spice but the yearning is there while not being the focus.
Our side characters are so likeable and also hateable, which is absolutely required in every series. It feels like they are very well developed and you will be crushed if and when they die.

THE ABSOLUTE CLIFF I WAS ALSO PUSHED OFF AT THE END!!
It was absolutely perfect. No notes, chef kiss, all the things.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orin Steele’s By Blood, Shadow & Fire prologue delivers immediate devastation. No warm-up, no mercy – straight into morally grey decisions and consequences. And chapter one already having you teary? That’s how you know the author truly grasped the assignment.

The worst part is when a book:

- Breaks your heart
- Heals your reading slump
- Raises your standards to unreasonable levels
- Then vanishes leaving you waiting for book two.

This book had it all: sacrifice, romance tension, world-building, betrayal energy and the “I would burn kingdoms for you” vibes.

That post-book emptiness is real. It’s not a slump – it’s grief. You don’t want a book; you want that feeling again.

[Jessica Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the whole storyline! As with many fantasy books the beginning was a bit hectic with all the world building but once I got a feel for the story it was so good!!!! The FMC is 100% a character you’ll be rooting for, and I loved the dynamic with the MMC. I am so excited to see where this series goes, there’s much to come I’m sure of it!

[Rob Mullinnix · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of By Blood, Shadow and Fire.

This is a debut with an excellent premise and some genuinely compelling ideas, but for me the execution never quite matched the promise of the setup.

The opening introduces an intriguing world: gods who rule separate realms, a looming war that threatens existence itself, and a heroine marked at birth and hidden from divine ascension. The mythology and magic system have real potential, and whenever the story focuses on survival, pursuit, or the consequences of power, the book becomes far more engaging.

Unfortunately, much of the novel shifts its attention toward the developing romance between Islyn and Ferric, and that relationship never felt emotionally earned. Ferric is presented as a centuries-old general fighting a world-changing conflict, yet much of his characterization revolves around immediate romantic fixation rather than the weight of command or the stakes surrounding him. Likewise, Islyn often reads far younger than her twenty-four years, reacting impulsively and avoiding questions or conversations that should fundamentally reshape her understanding of herself and her past.

Because of this, many important moments land without the emotional impact they seem designed to carry. Revelations about prophecy, family history, and the coming war arrive without urgency, and long stretches of the middle feel disconnected from the catastrophic stakes repeatedly described by the narrative.

Ironically, the strongest sections arrive late in the book. Once the story shifts into pursuit and survival, both characters begin to feel sharper and more believable. The tension finally rises, the danger feels real, and the magic system becomes far more compelling. Unfortunately, by that point much of the emotional investment the story needed earlier had already been lost for me.

There is clearly a strong foundation here — an interesting mythology, flashes of effective action, and a finale that hints at a more focused sequel. Readers who enjoy romantasy driven primarily by atmosphere and emotional longing may connect with it more than I did. For me, however, too many character motivations and emotional beats felt unearned, leaving a story that had all the pieces for something powerful but never quite came together.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review | By Blood, Shadow, and Fire by Orin Steele

Book One in the Severed Oaths series

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 rounding up for good reads rating scales.

This fantasy romance debut opens with a gripping prologue that immediately hooked me and left me needing to know how everything unravels back to that moment. The pacing slows after that, but it reads like classic high fantasy with layered world building and steady development rather than constant action.

I loved the outside reference style entries about the lands at the beginning. They added depth while naturally explaining the world’s origins and customs. The writing is immersive, and the emotional weight, especially the FMC’s grief, feels seen and real. She can come off a bit naive and her trust shifts quickly, but considering how sheltered she was, it makes sense for her character.

The romance is built on tension and yearning. Their first meeting had that fate charged, almost reach for each other hand clench moment. Our MMC is a general of a god, which adds so much to his internal conflict and sense of duty. Not a shadow daddy, more like a starlight daddy. That said, a large portion of the middle focuses on them wrestling with whether they should be together, and it did start to feel repetitive at times.

I also wanted more depth from the side characters because the glimpses we get make them feel like they could add so much more.

This feels like a solid start to a debut series. The world building is strong and I will definitely be continuing.

By Blood, Shadow, and Fire releases on April 28, 2026.

As always, please check content and trigger warnings before reading.

Thank you Netgalley and Victoria Editing for the eARC of this book!

[racheldayze · Rating 4 out of 5]

* rating 3.5 but rounding up for goodreads*

Thank you so much Emrae Publishing and Orin Steele for the advance copy of this 🖤

First off, this was one of my most anticipated reads for the year. This is Orin Steele’s debut novel, and the first book in the Severed Oaths series (I believe it’s a planned trilogy).

The book drew me in from the prologue, and then we rewind to few years earlier to start the main section of the book (which wasn’t explicitly stated but inferred).

I throughly enjoyed the world building in the book. There was such diverse and descriptive details and it felt like I watched this whole story play out in my head, like quite literally this could have been a movie I watched. Super immersive and well done.

I liked the FMC, Islyn. The grief she carried through the book is raw and real, and her moral compass was very apparent throughout the book. The main chunk of the book follows FMC / MMC who go on a quest together, which serves the purpose to develop their relationship more, but it did feel quite lengthy during this time, where this section of the book dragged for me. Most of this section included the MC’s fighting themselves in their inner-monologues on if they should be with one another, and it just felt repetitive. I liked the MMC but I found his pov chapters were not my fave and again, felt pretty repetitive as the entirely of it was about how he wants to be with her but he can’t. However, I think there’s could be a lot more to him that we don’t see yet.

Overall, I think this is a solid (yet kinda slow) start to the series, but I will be continuing. I need to know how the hell she gets into the situation she’s in in the prologue 🫣

Congrats on the debut and I’m looking forward to following Islyn and co. on her journey!

[Hazel Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

By Blood, Shadow, and Fire is a breathtaking debut that immediately drew me into a world brimming with danger, destiny, and slow-burn tension. This sweeping romantic fantasy delivers on both epic stakes and deeply personal emotion — a combination that made it impossible to put down.

From the first page, Orin Steele introduces us to Islyn, a heroine marked by powers she never asked for and thrust into a realm on the brink of war. Her fierce intelligence and resilience make her journey feel both heroic and painfully real. The worldbuilding is rich and immersive, filled with ancient forces, shifting alliances, and magic that feels alive with consequence.

What truly sets this story apart is the tension between duty and desire. The relationship between Islyn and the warrior bound to protect her is electric — a slow-burn connection that adds both depth and frisson to an already compelling tale. It’s a romance that doesn’t overshadow the plot, but enhances it, weaving emotional stakes into every battle and every choice.

Steele’s storytelling is bold and evocative. The blend of political intrigue, mythic magic, and personal transformation creates a narrative that’s thrilling, heartfelt, and unforgettable. There’s a palpable sense of destiny at every turn, yet the characters always feel grounded and real.

If you love fantasy that combines sweeping adventure with rich character arcs and sizzling romantic tension, By Blood, Shadow, and Fire is an absolute must-read — and a shining five-star debut

[pineapples & Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing debut for Orin.

Islyn has spent her life knowing she doesn’t truly belong. Always running. Always hiding what she is. Her parents chose to keep her safe as an infant and not hand her over to the gods for ascension. That choice cost Islyn many things in life. Power. Love. Freedom. Wanting to know more about herself and put an end to her family’s suffering she makes the decision to make herself known to the gods of Nithri. A decision that would alter her life. Allowing her to see what could have been, what will be and the darkness that threatens to consume her.

Let me start by saying it took a few chapters to get into the book. Not because it wasn’t interesting but because it was information heavy. But not in a bad way. The world and magic system created is unique and just a lot to keep straight in the ol noggin. But once it hits you, it hits you.

This book takes you on a fantastical journey in a world of gods and goddesses long forgotten and who have abandoned the humans. Islyn isn’t a damsel in distress. From the very beginning she doesn’t need to be rescued, she is perfectly capable of handling life’s challenges on her own. She deals with issues head on. Making her one of my favorite FMCs of all time. Gah! I absolutely loved this book and I’m EAGERLY waiting for book 2 already.

🐺Fated mates
🐺 Strong FMC
🐺 Slow burn
🐺 Grief & trauma
🐺 gods & monsters
🐺 Dual POV

[Gallia Thomson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

There is no question that Orin Steele can write, and the story concept was intriguing. The start of the book had me invested. Unfortunately it was short lived for me due to a few reasons.

One, there was a lot of repetition, over explaining and saying the same thing three different ways. This pulled me right out of the story.

There were many points in the book where I also felt like I must have missed something, I must not understand, but it was actually either not explained or not explained clearly.

Islyn and Ferric are the main characters and love interests in the book, and unfortunately their constant battle on whether to be together was a large portion of the book, which distracted from the main storyline and really slowed down the pacing. A little back and forth is expected and welcomed, but it was a constant narrative. The book is pitched as a fantasy with romance, but 75% of the book is rooted in the romance storyline and so I think it’s better categorized as a Romantasy.

The book shifts very quickly around the 80% mark, back to very fast paced and probably some of the more interesting parts of the story, but by this time the development wasn’t there for the big moments to have the proper emotional payoff.

The foundation is there, the idea is great, and Orin’s writing has the skill to make something great. Unfortunately this story just didn’t come together in the end and pull me in.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4🌶️ 3⭐️

What an amazing debut by Orin Steele! By Blood, Shadow and Fire is a complex Romantasy book with fantastic world building and an interesting take on magic systems.

This book would be fantastic for readers who loved From Blood and Ash.

Steel creates impressive backstories and lore for the FMC and MMC which although not detailed are mostly followable throughout the narrative, backed up with some great side characters (honestly I need to see more of them, please and thank you).

If you like your FMC’s brave (even if to the point of stupid) and your MMC’s on their knees then this series is the one for you, and bonus points for the conflicting feelings and a burn that went up and down more than a bungee jumper. (The pay off was worth it).

The story does end of a cliff hanger- but it’s clear to see this series is going to have depth and I am so excited to see how this series progresses.

Thank you to Orin and Emrae publishing for this opportunity.

[Laurynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orin Steele is such a talent, my gosh. Her words are poetic and beautiful. The world-building is woven so meticulously, the main characters shine, and the story itself is excellent.
This is very much about a love story. The yearning and tension are absolutely there. There was such raw honesty in the love they have and not just because they can’t lie. There’s a lot of back and forth on whether they’ll succumb to their desire and I thought it balanced their insta-love in a good way.
My cons were that at times it felt like too much was going on with not enough room for the plot points or tropes to breathe. There were some moments that were more jarring/unnecessary than cohesive to the story. I felt a little lost at times.
I did love how authentic Islyn was and I hope she continues to just be brave and herself. I am SO eager to know what happens next.
This is a great debut and the writing style alone would make me read more of Steele’s work.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Erine Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read a book that sucked me in faster and held me as hard. By Blood Shadow and Fire is BY FAR one of the best books I’ve ever read (I’ve read almost 600 books in the last couple of years) ; I’ve read all the “best authors of our time”. Orin has a way of describing everything so well you are immersed from page one. The Characters are relatable and the character growth is one of the best arcs I’ve ever read. The slow burn is FIRE 🔥🔥🔥 Iysln is BADASS and Ferris is drooling worthy. Reading this book is like cracking open a piece of rock and finding the most exquisite geode you’ve ever seen. The magic world is new and refreshing and it’s both challenging enough to make you think and also easy enough to not hurt your brain. I FLOORED by how well the characters, magic system, world and story are written. You would think this is Orin’s 15th book not her first. I cannot recommend this book enough. 17 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/10

[Hanna Eliasson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid start to the series. The prologue immediately drew me in and made it clear that I’ll be continuing with the next book. It created just enough intrigue to make me want to know how everything connects.

The story then shifts to a few years earlier, and it’s an interesting read overall. Both the FMC and MMC are well done and engaging. The supporting characters feel a bit underdeveloped at this point, though, except for Axys. I absolutely loved that wolf!
The premise is strong and has a lot of potential, but the quest itself felt somewhat slow and, at times, a bit dull. I would have liked to see more character development and meaningful progression. Not much actually happens, which makes this first installment feel more like a setup or filler book, and that’s not ideal for the start of a series.

That said, I will definitely be reading the second book. I need to know what happens next and how Islyn ends up where she is in the prologue.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️This was an amazing debut. By Blood, Shadow and Ash delivers a fresh magic system woven with divine influence and vivid worldbuilding that immediately pulled me in. The prologue hooked me from the start, and even after finishing, I am still reeling wondering how everything will circle back to that moment.

The story then shifts back a few years, following Islyn as she becomes entangled in powerful gods, ancient magic, and rising political tension. As she is drawn into events that could reshape the fate of her realm, her path becomes closely tied to Ferric’s, and together they are pulled deeper into dangerous secrets, shifting loyalties, and a future neither of them expected.

I loved both of their points of view, and their slow-to-medium burn romance added strong emotional depth. I only wish we had a bit more time with some side characters, but overall I cannot wait for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Mrs Holm Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Islyn is a young woman marked by the gods and sheltered by her loving parents. Her journey of self-discovery unfolds with the steadfast guidance of her protector, Ferric. Their relationship is fraught with an intense, unresolved attraction, complicated by Ferric's struggle to trust and his deep commitment to duty. As they navigate their feelings, they also face a pressing mission: to uncover the truth and prevent a devastating war instigated by two power-hungry twin rulers.

The story is rich with twists and turns, revealing the high stakes involved as Islyn and Ferric fight not only for their lives but for the lives of countless innocents caught in the crossfire. Islyn's unique magical abilities make her a target, as others seek to exploit her powers for their own gain. The tension builds relentlessly, culminating in a cliffhanger that leaves your mouth open with where is the next chapter any leave there.

[Dominika Klečková · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a solid introduction to a new series. I found the main characters to be pretty fleshed out for the first book of the series, which I really appreciated.
That being said the reading experience was a bit mixed. The story started out quite slowly but it did pick up towards the end. However I found myself lost a couple of times during the story which took me out of the story telling.
Overall, I think it's a solid three start read. While it was not a perfect fit for me writing wise, it could be a fit for someone else, that being said I don't think I will be continuing with the series.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a LONG time for me to get into this book but once things started to pick up I was genuinely hooked.

Was this a literary masterpiece? No. But it was engaging and fun, it has your strong FMC, the swooning powerful MMC, the anticipation of an upcoming war, the FMC trying to find herself through out this wild friggen journey she ends up on.

My only critique is wanting more… there were times in the first few chapters where things felt very rushed or like a few thoughts hadn’t been finished, I would’ve loved the addition of a few pages to those early chapters to fully comprehend that part of the story.

[Niina Salminen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will start with some appreciation to my first ever ARC title from NetGalley! I could not be happier to start my journey here. The underlying plot line has really good potential and I liked how world building was constructed in this book. The first prologue chapter definitely got my interest! However, I feel that some plot lines happened maybe out of the blue, the characters changed their minds without any reasoning and sometimes the dialogue didn't feel natural to me. Also the sentence structuring felt sometimes a bit odd and repetitive and first half of the book had a lot of dashes in them.

[ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this Arc.

For a debut author the writing is very good, making the reader more interested for what is to come in the next chapters.

I did enjoy the concept of this story, great world bending, However I felt that the plot dragged on a bit in the middle of the book than how the start and ending of the book grabbed me. This is because we are more focused on the romantic plot that goes back and foreword making me feel confused.

For someone who wants to get into romantasy this is a good book to start with.

When reading please check the trigger warnings too.

[Kathy Ruston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. I have a problem with so many books that prattle on about so many details on rooms. I know that sounds silly but I end up skipping paragraphs.

Orin kept me engaged with every word. And……I love Islyn and Ferric and their journey to their destiny. Just like watching your favorite movie a second time I have started By Blood, Shadow and Fire again.

I would never guess this was a debut book. I am counting the days for book 2!

[Sonica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explores what it means to be chosen against your will. The gods mark the FMC, but it feels more like a curse than a blessing. This book contains thick tension, secrets and the constant threat of violence. The world building develops with depth and intrigue. The romance simmers beneath the surface, built on protection, restraint, and longing that feels almost dangerous.

A richly woven romantasy that blends fate, fire, and forbidden desire into something darkly beautiful.

[Orin Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this my book? Yes. Am I going to be biased? Yes. Did I work my tail off for three years to bring you the best version of this book possible? Also yes. Thank you so much for giving my debut novel a chance. This is the first book I've ever written and it feel so surreal seeing it available here for rating. No matter how you felt about it—thank you.

[Ashley Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has so much potential and I cannot wait to see where it goes. I LOVE the cover, it calls to that dark corner of my heart. Based on the cover and prologue,I was expecting the story to be pretty dark. It was not, which is fine! I’m hoping for more of the prologue/cover art-vibes to appear in the next book (that I need ASAP!). This reads as more of a traditional romantasy book. Great story line, interesting magic, lots of secrets to uncover.

I am so thankful to have been chosen to read an advanced copy of the book. Thank you NetGalley for supplying me with this fantastic ARC!

[Remyllia Letourneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay for starters, I loved every minute of it! The story and writing kept me captivated. I love love love the FMC. She’s strong and such a real representation of anyone going through some shit. I am so incredibly excited that this is a trilogy and to continue the story. Because wow, Orin did not disappoint on the hype. Very appropriately hyped book, highly recommend!!

[David Vence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read. Relatable characters with depth. Left feeling excited to find out what happens next.