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The Blood Marrow
According to legend, the native tribes of Imperia harbored a mysterious power capable of warding off death itself…
As war threatens the safety of her brother and everyone else she holds dear, the daughter of the emperor, Iris Wu, turns her back on her royal title and joins the ranks of the Order of Alabass. The Order is a powerful group of international outcasts looking to make a name for themselves. Despite their seemingly righteous intentions of fighting back against the oppressive ruling nations, Iris discovers that the Order is harboring a dark secret.
She learns that their leader is hunting for a legendary power, known as the Blood Marrow, and Iris becomes more valuable than ever.
For any hope of survival, Iris must discover the truth of the legend—if there is any truth to it at all. In a thrilling journey of power, mystery, and love, she soon learns her past, her pedigree, and her future are more intertwined with the Order than she had ever imagined.
As war threatens the safety of her brother and everyone else she holds dear, the daughter of the emperor, Iris Wu, turns her back on her royal title and joins the ranks of the Order of Alabass. The Order is a powerful group of international outcasts looking to make a name for themselves. Despite their seemingly righteous intentions of fighting back against the oppressive ruling nations, Iris discovers that the Order is harboring a dark secret.
She learns that their leader is hunting for a legendary power, known as the Blood Marrow, and Iris becomes more valuable than ever.
For any hope of survival, Iris must discover the truth of the legend—if there is any truth to it at all. In a thrilling journey of power, mystery, and love, she soon learns her past, her pedigree, and her future are more intertwined with the Order than she had ever imagined.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2023
17 people are currently reading
1497 people want to read
About the author
Kiera Shen Gabel
1 book50 followersKiera Shen Gabel is a writer based in New England and has been writing stories ever since she could pick up a pencil. As an award-winning author and artist, she can be found typing away in her room or bringing her characters to life visually through art. For a glimpse at her current works in progress, updates, and more, visit www.kierashengabel.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 27, 2023
I'm soo happy and glad that I came across one of your videos.You are such a talented author❤️😭!I really hope ur novel will get the hype it deserves.
June 20, 2024
It's always hard for me to begin low-star reviews, especially for new authors because I don't want to seem cruel or overly critical, but I do think I should be honest no matter what. I can only hope that readers who see the flaws in my own work do the same for me.
To put it simply, I don't think this book has reached its full potential. Printer issues aside with broken text lines and typos, it didn't feel polished to me. I'll begin at the beginning, and keep in mind, I'm trying to be gently honest.
I think Imperia needs a more unique name. I'll leave that critique where it is. Second, I thought Iris, especially at the beginning of the story, came across as too girl-bossy and angry. It made her unlikable unfortunately, especially the way in which she is constantly fighting with her dad. It felt immature and it wasn't addressed very much later. Also, I started this book thinking it was a fantasy world of castles and sword fighting, so at the first mention of cars and modern tech, I was completely thrown off balance. Moreover, I'm a firm believer that if the world is entirely separate from our own, the language shouldn't draw so heavily from our own slang.
A central plot point I had major difficulties with was the use of the Marrow. I think this is a powerful and fascinating magical element, but it seemed to lose its potential. From the back cover blurb and the first time Iris falls off the roof and doesn't die, the reader knows the Marrow is inside her. So, rather than having a vague investigation occur off screen, including the reference to journals etc, why not have Iris know quickly that she has it and try to use it effectively? The twist that it can also kill the user could be saved for later on, but her training with that ability would be a more interesting storytelling technique. Moreover, it would remove the unbelievability of a young girl knocking out grown men with her fists, which defies physics, regardless of how much she trains.
Regarding the reveals about the Marrow and Iris' mother, I felt like I kept missing plot points because they would burst on the scene suddenly. When Iris tells Simu that the Order killed her mother, I was confused and wondering when I missed that earlier revelation. By tidying up these reveals and making them more evident, the author could make the story feel more cohesive.
Another major issue I had was the love story. I could tell instinctively that Wang would be the love interest, just in the way that the author describes him as attractive and muscled. But he is barely in the first half of the book and is so abrasive toward Iris that I kept wondering if I was wrong, because it meant they had no chemistry. They were thrown together a few times and he showed a desire to keep her safe, though that felt more like a soldier's courtesy, then they have a few days journey through the mountains after which they are quite suddenly in love. I had no emotional sensation at all when he said he hated her because he was attracted to her, and when they kissed for the first time, it all felt entirely out of the blue. I really felt she had far more chemistry with Naveen, Jaice, and even Craylyn. It would have been a nice change of pace for the female MC to fall in love with one of her friends who was not also the muscled-tall-dark-and-handsome brooding man. I thought Wang and Taiana had far more chemistry with each other as well.
My next critique involves Varys. He wasn't in enough of the story and I didn't know enough about him to find him scary. It was a matter of course that he would be the villain because of the structure of this type of story, so it would have been a fun spin if he'd actually been a good guy.
Some other plot holes that confused me:
- How did Jess' bird end up at the Winter Palace just when Iris and Wang showed up? Was this planned ahead?
-Why didn't Varys kidnap baby Iris after he found out Myra was not the true holder of the Blood Marrow? He would have realized his mistake quickly and kidnapping her would have been easy for the Order to manage.
In short, I think this story has real potential, and I want Kiera Shen Gabel to keep writing! But I highly recommend that this book be taken back to the editing table.
To put it simply, I don't think this book has reached its full potential. Printer issues aside with broken text lines and typos, it didn't feel polished to me. I'll begin at the beginning, and keep in mind, I'm trying to be gently honest.
I think Imperia needs a more unique name. I'll leave that critique where it is. Second, I thought Iris, especially at the beginning of the story, came across as too girl-bossy and angry. It made her unlikable unfortunately, especially the way in which she is constantly fighting with her dad. It felt immature and it wasn't addressed very much later. Also, I started this book thinking it was a fantasy world of castles and sword fighting, so at the first mention of cars and modern tech, I was completely thrown off balance. Moreover, I'm a firm believer that if the world is entirely separate from our own, the language shouldn't draw so heavily from our own slang.
A central plot point I had major difficulties with was the use of the Marrow. I think this is a powerful and fascinating magical element, but it seemed to lose its potential. From the back cover blurb and the first time Iris falls off the roof and doesn't die, the reader knows the Marrow is inside her. So, rather than having a vague investigation occur off screen, including the reference to journals etc, why not have Iris know quickly that she has it and try to use it effectively? The twist that it can also kill the user could be saved for later on, but her training with that ability would be a more interesting storytelling technique. Moreover, it would remove the unbelievability of a young girl knocking out grown men with her fists, which defies physics, regardless of how much she trains.
Regarding the reveals about the Marrow and Iris' mother, I felt like I kept missing plot points because they would burst on the scene suddenly. When Iris tells Simu that the Order killed her mother, I was confused and wondering when I missed that earlier revelation. By tidying up these reveals and making them more evident, the author could make the story feel more cohesive.
Another major issue I had was the love story. I could tell instinctively that Wang would be the love interest, just in the way that the author describes him as attractive and muscled. But he is barely in the first half of the book and is so abrasive toward Iris that I kept wondering if I was wrong, because it meant they had no chemistry. They were thrown together a few times and he showed a desire to keep her safe, though that felt more like a soldier's courtesy, then they have a few days journey through the mountains after which they are quite suddenly in love. I had no emotional sensation at all when he said he hated her because he was attracted to her, and when they kissed for the first time, it all felt entirely out of the blue. I really felt she had far more chemistry with Naveen, Jaice, and even Craylyn. It would have been a nice change of pace for the female MC to fall in love with one of her friends who was not also the muscled-tall-dark-and-handsome brooding man. I thought Wang and Taiana had far more chemistry with each other as well.
My next critique involves Varys. He wasn't in enough of the story and I didn't know enough about him to find him scary. It was a matter of course that he would be the villain because of the structure of this type of story, so it would have been a fun spin if he'd actually been a good guy.
Some other plot holes that confused me:
- How did Jess' bird end up at the Winter Palace just when Iris and Wang showed up? Was this planned ahead?
-Why didn't Varys kidnap baby Iris after he found out Myra was not the true holder of the Blood Marrow? He would have realized his mistake quickly and kidnapping her would have been easy for the Order to manage.
In short, I think this story has real potential, and I want Kiera Shen Gabel to keep writing! But I highly recommend that this book be taken back to the editing table.
May 4, 2024
This book was amazing!! It had me glued to the pages. I absolutely ate it up. I love fantasy × dystopian and this book had my heart. I loved the main cast of characters and how they were so loyal and caring towards Iris. They all have my heart. Such an amazing book by a fellow teen author!
December 16, 2023
I would give this book a 4.5 star rating. The novel was very well written and kept my interest. I fell in love with Kiera Shen's cast of diverse and often times funny cast of characters. The intrigue of Iris discovering who she was kept my turning the page to see what happened next! While there wasn't a great abundance of romance, what there was, was so cute! I loved the dynamic Iris and Avrian created with their relationship was such a boost to the plot, and I enjoyed every second of it. Another amazing novel written by a fellow teen author!
February 20, 2024
I loved this book!! It kept me hooked from start to finish and I loved every second of it. I love all of the characters, the found family is amazing. The romance was perfection. Everyone just needs to read this book!!
August 20, 2024
loved it! love avrian. for some reason thought there was gonna be another book, but ok.
March 31, 2025
wow. i’m in love, what an outstanding book. 10/10
April 6, 2024
The Blood Marrow pleasantly surprised me in its fantastic, original plot base and the characters.
The idea for the book has such potential and overall I like how the story unfolds. The worldbuilding is unique and includes so many aspects I wish to see more in fantasy books (like, I mean, dog sleds???? Sign me right up!!).
I loved the diversity and characterisation of the cast, and the main group of characters certainly all had their own traits that made them all so loveable. I know many of them have claimed a place in my heart that won't ever be replaced. I do think a few actions of side characters were a bit out of place or just not explained enough, but overall, these were just small things. I also found that the relationship between Iris and Avrian was a little abrupt and I wish we had seen more of them interacting before any physical romance was introduced; I'm an impatient girlie so slow burn isn't generally to my taste, but if this had been drawn out in this book would have been utter perfection.
The way the found family trope unfolded in this book was so fantastic and the book very nicely emphasised friendship and loyalty. I would love to see more books like this in the future presenting such strong and meaningful messages. I definitely think I walked away from this book feeling fulfilled and having had my world enlightened.
The plot unfolded in a nice way, and there was a nice level of tension throughout. Details of settings and that was present, and I generally had a good gist of what the environment look like. Of course, this could have been subtly elaborated on in parts, but I was never completely lost or in a white room. There were a few times the timeline seemed a little off or that large bulks of time passed without it feeling like it, and whilst this did throw me off a few times, I could overall understand it in terms of keeping the pace moving and the tensions up.
The writing was nice, and the author definitely has a lot of potential. However, there was a decent amount of editing and formatting errors (especially lines being split halfway through sentences into new paragraphs), but by all means the book is still 100% readable and enjoyable despite these.
In conclusion, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to people. I will absolutely be reading anything more the author produces as she clearly has so much potential and such an amazing imagination.
The idea for the book has such potential and overall I like how the story unfolds. The worldbuilding is unique and includes so many aspects I wish to see more in fantasy books (like, I mean, dog sleds???? Sign me right up!!).
I loved the diversity and characterisation of the cast, and the main group of characters certainly all had their own traits that made them all so loveable. I know many of them have claimed a place in my heart that won't ever be replaced. I do think a few actions of side characters were a bit out of place or just not explained enough, but overall, these were just small things. I also found that the relationship between Iris and Avrian was a little abrupt and I wish we had seen more of them interacting before any physical romance was introduced; I'm an impatient girlie so slow burn isn't generally to my taste, but if this had been drawn out in this book would have been utter perfection.
The way the found family trope unfolded in this book was so fantastic and the book very nicely emphasised friendship and loyalty. I would love to see more books like this in the future presenting such strong and meaningful messages. I definitely think I walked away from this book feeling fulfilled and having had my world enlightened.
The plot unfolded in a nice way, and there was a nice level of tension throughout. Details of settings and that was present, and I generally had a good gist of what the environment look like. Of course, this could have been subtly elaborated on in parts, but I was never completely lost or in a white room. There were a few times the timeline seemed a little off or that large bulks of time passed without it feeling like it, and whilst this did throw me off a few times, I could overall understand it in terms of keeping the pace moving and the tensions up.
The writing was nice, and the author definitely has a lot of potential. However, there was a decent amount of editing and formatting errors (especially lines being split halfway through sentences into new paragraphs), but by all means the book is still 100% readable and enjoyable despite these.
In conclusion, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to people. I will absolutely be reading anything more the author produces as she clearly has so much potential and such an amazing imagination.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2024
where do i start? i was completely hooked from the prologue, Kiera’s writing is truly beautiful (there are some pages that are FULLY annotated…)
i loved the main characters, the side characters, the plot, the world, everything about it was amazing from start to finish.
the pace was perfect, the relationship between all characters, the character development, the found family were *chefs kiss*.
i would’ve loved more scenes between Iris and Avrian, where we can actually see them starting to like and then love each other.
but overall this was such an amazing book and an AMAZING story, it is definitely one of those books that make you want to just turn the pages faster and faster.
i recommend this book to all fantasy readers out there!!
i read it on my kindle but immediately bought a physical copy and i can’t wait to annotate it.
SPOILERS BELOW
some of my favourite quotes are :
“You should return," he calls after me. "Because there are people in the Order who will lay down their lives to keep you from harm. Because none of us will let him hurt you. If we're all scattered, there's no guarantee we will reach you before he does. That is why you should stay."
"Varys will have to take every sliver of life from my chest before he can even think of hurting you,"
Avrian says. "I mean it."
(…)
"I hate you because of the way you make me feel," he says. "I hate that you make me forget about everything else until the only thought left in my mind is you."
“As if holding on to him could mend all of my wounds.”
“Because I’m in love with you, Iris,” he says. “So dreadfully, so helplessly in love with you.”
i loved the main characters, the side characters, the plot, the world, everything about it was amazing from start to finish.
the pace was perfect, the relationship between all characters, the character development, the found family were *chefs kiss*.
i would’ve loved more scenes between Iris and Avrian, where we can actually see them starting to like and then love each other.
but overall this was such an amazing book and an AMAZING story, it is definitely one of those books that make you want to just turn the pages faster and faster.
i recommend this book to all fantasy readers out there!!
i read it on my kindle but immediately bought a physical copy and i can’t wait to annotate it.
SPOILERS BELOW
some of my favourite quotes are :
“You should return," he calls after me. "Because there are people in the Order who will lay down their lives to keep you from harm. Because none of us will let him hurt you. If we're all scattered, there's no guarantee we will reach you before he does. That is why you should stay."
"Varys will have to take every sliver of life from my chest before he can even think of hurting you,"
Avrian says. "I mean it."
(…)
"I hate you because of the way you make me feel," he says. "I hate that you make me forget about everything else until the only thought left in my mind is you."
“As if holding on to him could mend all of my wounds.”
“Because I’m in love with you, Iris,” he says. “So dreadfully, so helplessly in love with you.”
January 31, 2024
3.75 ⭐️
Such a good YA fantasy dystopian novel with a hint of romance!! This was just the book I needed. Right from the start, I was invested in Iris’ character and the journey she embarked on. The second half of this book had me FLYING through it. The end of every chapter had me coming back for more. 🤭
There were certain parts where I was a little confused which led me to the 3.75 rating. I wish the blood marrow was better explained in the beginning. The whole aspect of the blood marrow was extremely interesting, but I felt like I didn’t fully understand it until the 50% mark. Also, once Iris joined the order, I felt like the plot started to slow down a bit. However, once her and her friends left on their journey, I was quickly interested in the plot again. Seeing Iris’ friendships develop even more over this journey was so fun to read about.
What I loved:
- The friendship dynamics. Definitely gave me a bit of shatter me vibes which is one of my favorite series of all time. Especially, in the second half of the book, I loved getting to see Iris connect with everyone even more.
- The romance between Iris and Avrian. I really adored them as a couple, and I loved their banter. 🥰 I would have loved to see more from them as a couple, but considering it is a YA, I think it was done pretty well.
- The character growth. It was definitely interesting to see Iris grow from being a royal princess to a brave, determined, and independent lady.
Overall, I highly recommend The Blood Marrow if you’re looking for a good YA fantasy book. I can’t wait to see what Kiera writes in the future! :)
Such a good YA fantasy dystopian novel with a hint of romance!! This was just the book I needed. Right from the start, I was invested in Iris’ character and the journey she embarked on. The second half of this book had me FLYING through it. The end of every chapter had me coming back for more. 🤭
There were certain parts where I was a little confused which led me to the 3.75 rating. I wish the blood marrow was better explained in the beginning. The whole aspect of the blood marrow was extremely interesting, but I felt like I didn’t fully understand it until the 50% mark. Also, once Iris joined the order, I felt like the plot started to slow down a bit. However, once her and her friends left on their journey, I was quickly interested in the plot again. Seeing Iris’ friendships develop even more over this journey was so fun to read about.
What I loved:
- The friendship dynamics. Definitely gave me a bit of shatter me vibes which is one of my favorite series of all time. Especially, in the second half of the book, I loved getting to see Iris connect with everyone even more.
- The romance between Iris and Avrian. I really adored them as a couple, and I loved their banter. 🥰 I would have loved to see more from them as a couple, but considering it is a YA, I think it was done pretty well.
- The character growth. It was definitely interesting to see Iris grow from being a royal princess to a brave, determined, and independent lady.
Overall, I highly recommend The Blood Marrow if you’re looking for a good YA fantasy book. I can’t wait to see what Kiera writes in the future! :)
February 12, 2024
I just wanted to say that this book is an absolute GEM. The writing is amazing and the worldbuilding is so fascinating and unique. I liked Iris a lot because of how determined she was throughout this book- it was just... WOW. This book was easily given 5-stars.
One thing I'd like to point out is Avrian's unique, almost morally-grey personality. He's a likeable character and all throughout this book, I definitely enjoyed his mysterious nature. Naveen was another fan favorite. I loved his jokes, his sarcasm, everything. Actually, I think I liked all of the characters. My favorite lands on Nav for sure.
One thing that I'd like to critique is the sudden change in Commander Wang's attitude on pages 183-184. Whether that was intentional or not, I don't really know but it was just sudden and caught me off guard. I guess this isn't really a critique but it did leave me confused for a moment. Secondly, I'm still unsure of how the Blood Marrow actually works. I would like another book on this story, elaborating on the magic system because the Blood Marrow was definitely an interesting topic.
All in all, this book was AWESOME. And especially for a young aspiring indie author (me included), this book was very well written. It was fast-paced and I liked every aspect and trope that this book has to offer. Great Job, Kiera! I'm so glad I found you on instagram because this book definitely left me inspired <33.
One thing I'd like to point out is Avrian's unique, almost morally-grey personality. He's a likeable character and all throughout this book, I definitely enjoyed his mysterious nature. Naveen was another fan favorite. I loved his jokes, his sarcasm, everything. Actually, I think I liked all of the characters. My favorite lands on Nav for sure.
One thing that I'd like to critique is the sudden change in Commander Wang's attitude on pages 183-184. Whether that was intentional or not, I don't really know but it was just sudden and caught me off guard. I guess this isn't really a critique but it did leave me confused for a moment. Secondly, I'm still unsure of how the Blood Marrow actually works. I would like another book on this story, elaborating on the magic system because the Blood Marrow was definitely an interesting topic.
All in all, this book was AWESOME. And especially for a young aspiring indie author (me included), this book was very well written. It was fast-paced and I liked every aspect and trope that this book has to offer. Great Job, Kiera! I'm so glad I found you on instagram because this book definitely left me inspired <33.
May 2, 2024
A solid 3.75 ⭐
I haven't read a lot of fantasy books yet but I think this genre works best when it's a series because it helps with the details and world building. And honestly I wouldn't classify this book as fantasy, it falls under dystopian with a hint of romance. It gives Shatter Me vibes. Like I said, I think this book would be better if the story had a few more elements to it and if the book was a bit longer as a standalone (since it's not a series). It felt a little bland at some parts but nonetheless this book was a good read indeed and the author truly did a great job since this is her debut.
Naveen reminds me of Kenji Kishimoto from the Shatter Me series and the found family trope in this book was heartwarming. I wish we got a bit more insight to the romance between Avrian and Iris but I think that's a 'me' problem because I'm a romance girly at heart
I haven't read a lot of fantasy books yet but I think this genre works best when it's a series because it helps with the details and world building. And honestly I wouldn't classify this book as fantasy, it falls under dystopian with a hint of romance. It gives Shatter Me vibes. Like I said, I think this book would be better if the story had a few more elements to it and if the book was a bit longer as a standalone (since it's not a series). It felt a little bland at some parts but nonetheless this book was a good read indeed and the author truly did a great job since this is her debut.
Naveen reminds me of Kenji Kishimoto from the Shatter Me series and the found family trope in this book was heartwarming. I wish we got a bit more insight to the romance between Avrian and Iris but I think that's a 'me' problem because I'm a romance girly at heart
July 20, 2024
The first 30% of this book took me about 8 days to finish (normally I can READ read a book in like 3 days). It was so slow / I kept losing interest / I kept falling asleep. But the other 60% I was able to finish in 2 days.
Look. Iris is annoying. And makes *terrible* decisions. How is she fighting major battles when she is literally so inadequately trained? Why is she the one deciding these things? Isn’t there a hierarchy?! Does she get to make calls bc she’s a princess??
There was no slow buildup to the love story either. There was no tension or chemistry. I felt nothing for Wang. And I was so annoyed by Iris I felt nothing for her either.
And as for ✨the marrow✨.. I wish she had found out about it more and was able to use it to help people throughout the story instead of at the end. Like hellooooooo Nav just sitting in a hospital for MONTHS?!
Look. Iris is annoying. And makes *terrible* decisions. How is she fighting major battles when she is literally so inadequately trained? Why is she the one deciding these things? Isn’t there a hierarchy?! Does she get to make calls bc she’s a princess??
There was no slow buildup to the love story either. There was no tension or chemistry. I felt nothing for Wang. And I was so annoyed by Iris I felt nothing for her either.
And as for ✨the marrow✨.. I wish she had found out about it more and was able to use it to help people throughout the story instead of at the end. Like hellooooooo Nav just sitting in a hospital for MONTHS?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2025
This has been the first fantasy book I’ve read since onyx Storm that I’ve been able to finish and enjoy. I absolutely loved this book it was amazing. I am new to fantasy and dystopian books but I loved this story, it had an amazing plot and setting. I absolutely loved all of the characters and Avrian has definitely become one of my favorite book boyfriends.
“I hate you because of the way you make me feel,” he says. “I hate that you make me forget about everything else until the only thought left in my mind is you.”
“From the day you called me an asshole up until this moment, I have not gone a day without thinking of you. For better or for worse,” Avrian says. “Mostly worse.”
“You are quite possibly the most powerful being in this world,” he says. “You have the power to bring me to my knees, to bend me to your will. And perhaps the worst part is… I enjoy every moment of it.”
“I hate you because of the way you make me feel,” he says. “I hate that you make me forget about everything else until the only thought left in my mind is you.”
“From the day you called me an asshole up until this moment, I have not gone a day without thinking of you. For better or for worse,” Avrian says. “Mostly worse.”
“You are quite possibly the most powerful being in this world,” he says. “You have the power to bring me to my knees, to bend me to your will. And perhaps the worst part is… I enjoy every moment of it.”
March 18, 2024
“The facades we all put on in order to pretend like everything is perfect.”
I found Kiera through Instagram and thought her book looked interesting.
The writing style can be simple at times, but the story makes up for it. Kiera has created engaging characters and a beautiful world. Iris is an interesting mixture of timid and sassy and reminds me of Elizabeth Bennet at times.
Kiera’s plot twists come at just the right moment, and I was really impressed by the amount of information being revealed. There are a lot of moving pieces and they all fit together.
I liked the progression of her arc from a sheltered palace girl to a warrior. It has Tris from Divergent vibes including a grumpy, mysterious love interest. I just wish Iris and Avrian had spent more time together in the beginning.
I found Kiera through Instagram and thought her book looked interesting.
The writing style can be simple at times, but the story makes up for it. Kiera has created engaging characters and a beautiful world. Iris is an interesting mixture of timid and sassy and reminds me of Elizabeth Bennet at times.
Kiera’s plot twists come at just the right moment, and I was really impressed by the amount of information being revealed. There are a lot of moving pieces and they all fit together.
I liked the progression of her arc from a sheltered palace girl to a warrior. It has Tris from Divergent vibes including a grumpy, mysterious love interest. I just wish Iris and Avrian had spent more time together in the beginning.
December 30, 2023
I swear this book has altered my brain chemistry
It's so fricking good guysss
Like I love love love the concept! It starts out so good and ends even better (little side tip: I cried, like a lot especially at the end 🥲) But you need to go and buy it and just read it!!
I haven't sat down for a book the amount of time I did for this one in just two days in a long fucking time like what??!!!
If you like YA fantasy you gotta read this book!!
And I'm gonna tell you - the romance is so perfect 😭🤍
Go read the book rn !
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Six starts at least 🫣🤍)
It's so fricking good guysss
Like I love love love the concept! It starts out so good and ends even better (little side tip: I cried, like a lot especially at the end 🥲) But you need to go and buy it and just read it!!
I haven't sat down for a book the amount of time I did for this one in just two days in a long fucking time like what??!!!
If you like YA fantasy you gotta read this book!!
And I'm gonna tell you - the romance is so perfect 😭🤍
Go read the book rn !
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Six starts at least 🫣🤍)
January 14, 2024
Oh my goodness this was a 5/5 star read for me! I cannot explain how much I loved this book! It's a YA dystopian fantasy with romance. So, so good! This book is just amazing. It is so well written, the plot pulls you in immediately and makes you not want to leave! The romance is so sweet and well written. It is closed door. If you want a YA fantasy or want to get into reading fantasy and don't know where to start, definitely read this! I will forever recommend it! You won't be disappointed if you read this book!
January 17, 2024
When I tell you I ate this book up. I mean I ATE THIS BOOK UP. It had me so intrigued, I was laughing crying, screaming! Definitely a new fav oh my god. I adored the banter between Iris and Avrian and UGH I just love them and all of the characters (minus the bad guys) so so soooo much. Definitely wanna re-read and tab. This is the perfect ya fantasy-dystopian with found family, enemies to lovers, betrayal, secret societies and more! Highly recommend.
May 7, 2024
This novel pulled me in right away with its intrigue, tension, and cleverly blended fantasy and dystopian elements. I was glued to the pages from start to finish and loved watching the plot unfold as Iris struggled to fit the pieces together in time! While there were some stylistic choices that kept me from giving this five stars, it was a solid novel and an enjoyable story. I would definitely recommend it for fans of the 2010s era of dystopian and fantasy.
May 12, 2024
I really enjoyed the Blood Marrow.
I love the courage, willpower to live, dedication, friendship from all characters.
At the end of the day, the will to do the right thing overpowered what’s they were accustomed to.
Love is amazing! Iris and Avarian (Commander Wang) love was simply beautiful.
It was great that Iris found out her mother was still alive. Even more, she was able to leave prison.
Great novel!
I love the courage, willpower to live, dedication, friendship from all characters.
At the end of the day, the will to do the right thing overpowered what’s they were accustomed to.
Love is amazing! Iris and Avarian (Commander Wang) love was simply beautiful.
It was great that Iris found out her mother was still alive. Even more, she was able to leave prison.
Great novel!
April 10, 2024
OMG. I don’t know where to start. The book was soooo good! The writing was so beautiful and I enjoyed every second of this book.
I loved all the characters and the character developments were sooo amazing! The romance was just pure perfection 😭❤️.
I’m so happy, I came across your videos and I hope the book gets the hype it deserves 🫶
I loved all the characters and the character developments were sooo amazing! The romance was just pure perfection 😭❤️.
I’m so happy, I came across your videos and I hope the book gets the hype it deserves 🫶
December 4, 2024
The book has loads of potential to be a 5-star! The writing is good and the premise is amazing, but the world-building and the characters should be more fleshed out and complex.
Still gonna read the next one by this author though!
Still gonna read the next one by this author though!
December 2, 2023
Haven’t read it yet, but I already know it’s going to be fantastic!! Congrats on your debut, Kiera; always love talking books with you :)
December 4, 2023
This book was amazing!!! I recommend you read it if you loved Shatter Me!
December 12, 2023
i found this book on instagram and bought it to support a fellow young author and ended up loving the book! i haven't read fantasy or YA in a very long time, and this book reminded me how special and nostalgic the genre is to me. i would highly recommend this book to any teen who likes fantasy fiction with cool female mcs :)
December 20, 2023
Wow! This was definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year!
You should totally read this book if you like books like Shatter Me and Divergent. Also the storyline was awesome, with many unexpected things happening and the characters are super cool and diverse.
Loved it!
Congrats on your debut novel, Kiera!
You should totally read this book if you like books like Shatter Me and Divergent. Also the storyline was awesome, with many unexpected things happening and the characters are super cool and diverse.
Loved it!
Congrats on your debut novel, Kiera!
December 21, 2023
Im screaming that I dont have this book yet but Im so sure im gonna love it!! I mean come on, it's purple, fantasy-dystopian!!
March 14, 2024
Loved it
May 26, 2024
LITTERALLY SO GOOD!! If you love YA dystopian X Fantasy this is for you!! This book put me in a slump because it was so good! I would highly recommend
July 3, 2024
I was a bit confused at first, but I liked it at the end. Keep up the good work!
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