After sixteen years of living under the thumb of a brutal slaver, Arayna Gamon is given the chance to be a part of an elite group of assassins—Soul Stealers. Serving only the Dark Throne, Arayna must learn how to use her burgeoning magic to ferry souls to the Underworld. But when an ancient being demands she pay a price, Arayna must decide where to place her loyalties.
Raised in the Deep South, Manuel is an author who revels in creating new worlds. As a general book addict and wordsmith, Manuel often finds herself lost in daydreams and plot trees. She's also an editor for other fantasy writers, so her whole world is books, books, books!
The Firenian universe now spans six books—the Twisted Fates trilogy, completed in 2022, and the ongoing Soul Stealer Saga.
Flames Like Darkness is a new series co-authored with the incomparable Angelina J. Steffort. The third and final installment is expected late 2025.
The Broken Court, the second book in the Shyal Chronicles trilogy, was released in late 2024 to eager readers.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I thought it had interesting characters, doing interesting things, in an interesting world. On the other, nothing even resembling an over-arching plot emerges until about page 350, and then everyone decides to deal with the issue later, and it was basically dropped again. So, in essence, this is a book of interesting people in an interesting world, running around doing and reacting to random things that don't seem to really tie into anything or tie together in any meaningful manner.
Further, as much as I liked a lot of things about the book, not least of which is the way Manuel challenged a lot of fated mates tropes and accepted behaviors. I often couldn't quite follow what was happening or the leaps that characters took. Plus, Arayna basically emerged from slavery and challenged everyone and everything that crossed her path, even when they were significantly stronger and more experienced. While I was probably supposed to read this as strong and independent, it came off as brutish and all but suicidal—more like she couldn't control herself than that she had a point to make.
Having said that, I'd read another. I didn't not enjoy it and I'd be interested in seeing how things turn out for the crew.
For the past sixteen years of her life, Arayna Gamon has been living with someone who has tortured and abused her. When she is given the opportunity to become a Soul Stealer, a group of elite assassins whose only purpose is to serve the Dark Throne, she takes it. As Ari gets settled into her new life, she must figure out her rare and newly discovered magic. However, when a powerful being makes a request from her, Arayna must reevaluate her priorities.
This is my first book by Belle Manuel, but I know it won’t be my last!!! I absolutely adored Arayna, the protagonist of “Of Blades and Shadows.” Ari is fierce, sarcastic, and bold, and I love how she always keeps everyone on their toes. I also loved watching her form relationships with other Soul Stealers, as well as the Wardens who protect them.
I also loved the banter between her and Priamos, an old friend Ari reconnected with. Another character I enjoyed was Thayer, the Warden assigned to Ari and her partner Dušan. There were moments when I wanted to scream, moments I laughed, moments I cried. This was the perfect book, and I can’t wait for book two!
Of Blades and Shadows Soul Stealer Saga #1 Fantasy, NA Belle Manuel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I found this book a little slow to start with but it soon made me curious.
The magic system is quite unique and I haven't come across anything like it before - the Soul Reapers, the Wardens and the Nether. The world building was really good too. Sometimes I did get a little confused as new people and places were introduced but it didn't take long for me to get used to it all.
Arayna (Ari) is stubborn and quick-witted. She has her walls up in place and uses banter and sheer determination to get through her days and do what needs to be done but that's understandable given what she has been through. I'd like her to open up just a little bit more though.
The other characters were good. Some blended into the background because they didn't really add much. Thayer frustrated me because of how rude he was and then he gave me whiplash (no spoilers 😂) but I'm happy with the way his own plot ended.
There was another big plot twist that I managed to predict but it was still interesting to see it unfold. I didn't feel like there was a whole lot of plot progression throughout the book though. It felt like this book is a big introduction for the next installment and sets up all of the characters for their next adventure.
I look forward to reading the next book. I hope that Ari's magic is explored even more, as well as her marks.
*A big thank you to Belle Manuel for letting me join her ARC team and providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Sold as a slave at a young age, Arayna grew up with pain, and torture, her fears used against her as a tool to train and mold her. When her magic begins surfacing, she finds herself being sold again, but this time to become a Soul Stealer - an elite assassin, bound to the Dark Throne to help ferry lost souls back to the nether. But it’s such an interesting switch - the man who buys her, Dusan, sees her as his partner, not his property or a slave. She will have her freedom after she pays off her debt, and she gets paid, and paid very well, for her service as a Soul Stealer.
Aryana’s magic is new, and as she is only half-elf, and didn’t have any kind of training or information on it, she struggles to learn to use it well. The Soul Stealers are protected by Wardens, also bound to the Dark Throne. These are also fascinating characters, and the relationships between the two groups are varied and intriguing. Some are extremely close, even in relationships, others are more like family, while others are much more business like. Interestingly enough, Arayna’s first encounter with Thayer, the warden assigned to Dusan, and now her, is not a pleasant one, and their contentious relationship is actually pretty humorous to watch evolve. There’s also a big surprise when she finds out that one of the wardens for another in this small group was a very close friend in the slaver’s house, probably the closest relationship she ever had with anyone. Pri is one of those characters that you immediately love, and I’m not quite sure I can explain it other than the impact and effect he has on Arayna, it’s clear their connection is very deep, and there’s a sweetness to it.
The magic system is intriguing, the Nether, Ignama, the whole soul stealing process, also fascinating, and the entire world, with this give and take between the characters and their roles in society is wholly engrossing. There’s a lot, so it can get a bit confusing, and there are times when it seems like maybe I should be understanding something that I feel like I missed, but eventually things really start to come together. In the end, I was sucked in, and I’m excited to continue to learn more about this world as the series continues.
4.5! Continue to be treated horribly or become an assassin? Easy choice for Arayna. Can we just talk about her sarcasm and sass? Ate it up. How she developed friendships with other Soul Eaters and Wardens. Plus her banter and just how she dealt with other characters was so refreshing!
I loved all of the fantasy elements of this book (the magic, the world building, the darkness 😈) but did not like any of the characters. I would’ve loved to see Arayna show more development and Thayer was my favorite until the last 1/3 of the book.
In the next book, I hope to see a more clear end goal for the group and for Arayna to show some emotional growth.
I can only describe Arayna (Ari) as Celaena from Throne of Glass but ten times more badass and ten times more intelligent/witty.
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of Of Blades and Shadows and I was sucked in from the start. Ari came from rough beginnings and gets pulled from one bad situation into another - but when you're a total badass, you can make every crappy situation work for you and Ari does exactly that.
The concept and worldbuilding felt really fresh, and by the end I was rooting for not only Ari but also the people around her - to say any more than that would be giving spoilers, but safe to say I can't wait for book two, particularly to see what happens between Ari and person-who-I-shall-not-name-but-am-internally-screaming-over!!!
This books continues in the same world as Twisted Fates. You'll be introduced to an entire new cast of characters, but also hear a couple familiar names.
Of Blades and Shadows was a quick read for me while I felt it a bit slow to start with the plot it quickly picked up once introducing more charters. I l enjoyed the back and forth between the group and the dynamic as each character is quiet different. I found the magic and world building easy to follow along. I loved seeing some growth with the FMC and hope to see more growth in the next book as well
3.5⭐️ I've got mixed feelings about this story. What I liked was the worldbuilding, and the characters: Arayna and Pri were my favourites, and I liked their chemistry. I didn't quite enjoy that the story didn't seem to have an overarching plot, and because of that, it took me a while to get into the story. However, I am curious to see where the story will take this group next due to the way that things ended.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Of Blades and Shadows is a dark, fast-paced fantasy filled with deadly magic, fierce training, and tough choices. Arayna’s transformation from a captive to a Soul Stealer is gripping, and the world of the Dark Throne has a raw, edgy allure. While some moments felt rushed, the premise and stakes kept me intrigued. It's a solid read for fans of morally gray heroines and dark magical worlds.
This book was so good. If you are looking for a good New Adult fantasy then I recommend this one. The chapters are short. The writing is phenomenal. The characters make you laugh. It is just overall a good time.
This was a fantastic first book to a trilogy and I cant wait to read books 2 and 3 of this series. This book is extremely character driven so if you are a plot driven reader then this might not be the book for you. I loved how the writing of this book was. It written to where all you wanted to do was pull me in. The characters were well written and the characters did have their moments to where you either loved them or you questioned their decisions.
My heart was breaking for Arayna and Thayer. Because I really enjoyed them together even if they were thrown together because of the fact that Arayna was bought as a new partner for Dušan. They had their moments to where they loved each other and moments to where Arayna couldnt stand him. Which can be understood due to the fact that she is figuring herself out and what it is she wanted after being purchased from her father at the age of 5 and living with someone who used torture as a way to inflict punishment for the better part of 16 years.
I loved every minute of this book. But if you are going to read it please note that it does deal with violence, sexual content, foul language. This is a dark fantasy so go in with this knowing that there will be triggers for things like abuse, slavery, and whatever else you might find in a dark fantasy.
I stumbled on this book by seeing a TikTok by the Author and the video intrigued me. So I bought it.
The story is amazing, the characters are so well written and the world building is incredible. I feel like we only just read a bit about this world and i can’t wait to learn more about it.
I am still confused for a few things but oh well, i guess I have to read the second book to help me understand the magic system a tiny bit better.
I absolutely loved the relationship between Zad and Sadira. And I ship SO FREAKING HARD Arayna and Priamos.
I had so much fun annotating the book, can’t wait to do it for the second one.
I really enjoyed this book. It's not perfect. The world building and plot was confusing and unclear at times and not in a "let's dole this out in little bits to keep things mysterious and not overwhelm people with too much all at once." It didn't stop me from enjoying what I could understand and the characters. Thayer is an asshat and I want him gone. I love Dusan and wish he played more of a role in Arayna's life. I want more bonding from them and not like the little rituals but like friends talking over beer kind of bonding.
There is potential here. It's not the best writing, and it's not the best plot, but the characters make up for that. Arayna is a really good lead, though I do wish she were a bit less self-destructibve.
The darkness was a plus, as I tend to see so many "assassin" stories where the assassin never even assassins. This was different, and I don't think I've seen a magic system like this yet. Will return for the next one.
This was the prefect fantasy read to get me out of my reading funk I practically devoured it! I love how there is such a transformation of character throughout the book!
I enjoyed the book as this starts to build the world for you and introduce the characters. It has incredible detail and sense of belonging. I can't wait for the next book.
I actually really liked this book. Lots of world building and plot. A twist I didn't see coming. Doesn't have a lot of spice but was nice for a change.
I enjoyed this book and I’m interesting in seeing where the series goes. I really hope she ends up with my fav character but we will see! I am excited to see what the other books offer. :)
I throughtly enjoyed Manuel's first series, A Fate So Twisted, so when I got the opportunity to be apart of her ARC team for her second upcoming series, well, you can imagine how excited I was!
As stated above, Of Blood And Shadows, is Manuel's newest book series. In a spectacular Bardugo fashion Manuel's new series takes place in the same world as A Fate So Twisted. However, this series follows an ultimate badass Arayna Gamon!
Many would believe that being brought from the evil clutches of sadistic "teacher" would mean freedom, but that is not the case for Ari. Wity, resilient and adorned with knives Ari takes to her new life with the goal of securing her freedom. Working alongside a crew known as, Soul Stealers, Ari works assassination jobs which send her to places she has only read about. And after 16 years of torment, Ari is eager to let loose and enjoy her life, but that becomes harder to do when her past meddles in her present. Ari is ultimately placed into a posistion where she's left to question just how far she's willing to go to get her freedom.
Ari was a character I immediately fell for, I think it would be impossible for anyone to read her story and not route for the girl. With a loveable cast, romance and heart stopping moments, the only thing that left me wanting, is the wait for the sequel!
The setup to an amazing universe! I really have never read a story quite like this one- the fantasy world so unique and separate from the masses of other magical settings.
Not a lot happens during this book, there seems to just be a lot of running around and random missions that don’t make a lot of sense in the greater scheme of things. It is a huge book of setups: learning about the characters, the world-building, and getting a hint towards a bigger plot. Despite not having a traditional plot, reading the development of the characters actually was very enjoyable. I’m glad that each character has depth and differentiation from the other characters.
The story leaves a lot of room for potential in the sequel, where we might finally get to the nitty-gritty of the plot. I look forward to seeing where these incredible characters lead us.
Thank you to the author for sending me an advance reader copy, Of Blades and Shadows.
This story has a rich and beautiful beginning. The way belle writes is poetic and lovely. I love Ara, she’s fun, goofy, a witty heroine that will make you feel for her always. I love how her character develops throughout the story and learns what it means to be free. It’s wonderful to watch her grow throughout.
I really enjoyed this story and the world building. I hope I’ve predicted the relationships correctly. I can’t wait to join Ari again on the next journey.
This is the first book I have read by B.M and I am pleasantly surprised. The start of this book kind of gives off “Assassins Blade” vibes, so of course I was alllll over it! 😍
I really enjoyed the world building within this book, it really helps to set the scene when there are so many different places included. This one had me chuckling at all the characters and their banter, but on the other side it had me cringing at some of the behaviours which knocked it down a star for me.. Some parts were a tad annoying.
I did enjoy the fact there wasn’t really a dull moment with this. There was plenty of action Plenty of MC with decent wing span IYKYK😏 Good character development But it’s got me questioning so much, I haven’t a clue which direction this one is going in and it’s great! I love it when the book keeps me guessing and has some sneaky twists in!
Ugh. I really thought I was going to love this book but instead it felt like I was running around in circles, lost in the woods. From start to end I struggled to get a grasp on who everyone was, what their marks meant, and just what the general plot was. I almost DNF’d it but realized I had less than 50 pages left so just trucked through until the end.