Blood, Flesh, & Magic

by Viano Oniomoh

Runo Edojah deserves a break. But being the best Samaritan at the Community Centre and hiding just how he’d obtained his renowned abilities means he doesn’t really have time for a break.

Cedric Nwaneri is too busy trying to keep Liberation, his lounge and home, alive, to focus on his fantastic dreams. When his best friend suggests they lure in rich humans with the erotic allure of a vampire bite, despite his apprehension, the temptation of the profits is too much for him to resist.

When Runo’s friends stage an intervention and force him to go to Liberation to unwind, it’s lust at first sight for the vampire and the winch. While Runo desperately wants to love and be loved, Cedric would rather stab himself in the heart with a wooden stake than saddle himself up in a relationship, talk less of one with a fucking winch. No, thank you.

Then one of the vampires at Liberation is murdered, and everything goes to shit.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M M Romance, Queer, LGBT, Adult, Paranormal

620 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 21, 2023

About the author

Viano Oniomoh is a passionate reader and writer, who was born and raised in Nigeria. She spends fifty percent of her time writing, forty percent reading, and the other ten listening to BTS. She may or may not use magic to get everything else in her life done. She also has no idea how to write about herself in the third person.

Find more about her at vianooniomoh.com

You can also connect with her on social media:

Viano Oniomoh on Facebook
@vianoniomoh on Twitter
and @vianoniomoh on Instagram.

Reviews

[LaTosha Webber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart, mind, and soul

Omg this was utterly brilliant. Ugh I don’t weven know how to put into words how beautiful and wonderful this is. The love, the brokenness, the healing, the connections were just as magical as the fantasy world it’s built through and around. The beautiful bright queerness. The emphasis on community, compassion, empathy. Viano poured so much into this story that it’s leaves you feeling like magic is bursting out of you! The way the world building pulls you in, the way the romance feels you with anticipation. The way the story and suspend grips you, this was just an amazing amazing story. It’s everything that I love about paranormal romance and reading this story felt like coming home!

[Jess.bookrecs · Rating 5 out of 5]

TALENT! TALENT! TALENT!
So much talent it feels like I’ve won a fucking lottery just from discovering this damn book!
Everytime I read from this author, I’m never disappointed; infact I earn a new favorite bc how is she able to think of this shit? This is real beautiful.
Love, longing and dazzling execution.
Especially being PNR set in Nigeria?!!! STOP
STOPPP!!

This book had me blushing and swooning more than some book with humans have been able to do. I was in love with every step. From the Slown burn to familiarizing myself with the universe to knowing the characters to rooting for the love between Runo and Cedric?? It feels like this added years to my life I’m not even fucking joking!
The story gave me so much joy and chills (but ignore the later coz I’m just a scardy cat)🤣

You can tell the author put in work! Cause living in Nigeria and harmonizing our way of living with this authors imaginary world? I’m actually gobsmacked.

SLAYYYYY

[Anniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite this being a very long book, it never actually felt long. In fact, I pretty much flew through it. This isn't my favourite Viano Oniomoh book, but I still really enjoyed it. The world building and magic system were really intriguing, but I didn't feel as invested in the romance as I would have liked.

[Mir]

DNF 31%

I’ve been trying to get through this for four days because I saw a post on Reddit raving about it, and I was so excited to read an urban fantasy set in Nigeria with a Black cast.

Unfortunately, I think I’m struggling with the writing style. Every character and their mother gets a heavy description. I know what their body size is, the shade of their skin, what their hair looks like, what they’re wearing. The next time that character appears, I get an update on how they’ve changed their hair. But 30% in, and I’m still not sure what an Omulari is or what a Noulari is? Is that magic people vs. humans? I’m confused on the rules of the world and I feel dumb.

The characters are fated mates and the romance is a slow burn which is fine, but it’s completely missing the pining. When they’re not together, they’re rarely thinking of one another.

I also could have done with a lot fewer dead animals.

I would give other books by this author a try, but this one unfortunately is not working for me.

[Crex · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️/5🖤
I don’t know what this authors adds to her books but I love it because 😩🙈, everything was so perfect..
the book was long but I didn’t even feel it that’s to show how much I’m obsessed 🖤😩💞

[Maaren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sometimes struggle with having a fantasy book happen in an urban setting but this one proved that it could blend both of those aspects really well! This was such a good story and despite the length, I enjoyed it immensly.

The slow burn romance between Cedric and Runo is so well done and how it progressed made a lot of sense. Both of these men have a lot of baggage and secrets that they are carrying with them, so it does make sense that they won't open up immediately to one another. And the tragedy at Cedric's club does not make things any easier for them. They clearly fall in love earlier than either of them admits but I actually enjoyed seeing it first and letting them come to the same conclusion. Love when that happens!

I do admit that I felt a little confused about the Noulari/Omulari -lore, but I was able to gather up enough information that once it clicked, I started to understand the world a lot more. And I like how it blends into modern society.

I also want to say a couple of words about the cover of this book. It's gorgeous but I feel like it gives the illusion that both main characters are young, but I think they are actually not? I don't know, I got a lot of New Adult -vibes from the cover but considering they both have so much life experience, they are actually older than the cover suggests. But I do like the style a lot.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

What a ride this was. I'm not used to well thought out world building in my romances anymore; at least not ones that aren't a series. There is a lot to take in with this book. The author does a great job describing the lore and bringing it up multiple times to reexplain in an organic way. The stars of this show though are Cedric and Runo. The chemistry these two men have with each other is off the charts. It's kind of a slow burn. They both feel an instant connection, but Cedric fights it due to his past. Runo has baggage too so the romance leans towards being angsty. It's well worth it if those tropes aren't your jam. They are just two great fully fleshed out characters.

And this might seem small, but we're graced with a proper epilogue! It's more than just a snapshot of their life together. It's a proper chapter with a mini arc for their love story. I would not be mad to come back to this world and have these two pop up as background characters.

[Kaisbooknook · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, especially the unique magic system. I would say however, that I personally found the magic system explanation/world building fell flat, and I was left to figure out a couple a unexplained factors by myself. I would've appreciated if the explanation went into more detail, as I spent a bit of the first quarter confused, which took away from the reading experience

While I did love the characters interpersonal relationships with each other, and the ways they interacted, I did find them to be a bit one-dimensional, and I didn't feel very connected to the characters

That being said, I loved the relationship between the two MC's, especially towards the end. I'm not going to spoil anything, but I found their love absolutely adorable, and their acts of service towards each other were unmatched.

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a fantasy book set in Nigeria, with a unique magic system, or just a book with spicy and cute romance.

[Oreeee🌹 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now this was LONG AS HELL

I wanted to give it five stars because I’m Nigerian, Yoruba, I love to read romance with mm/ff dynamics and they speak pidgin. Never thought I’d see the day lol but I was confused about the Omulari and Noulari stuff for a while before Cedric or Runo finally said something about one being human and the other a winch/vampire/etc. that didn’t really help my ratings at all

Jocelyn pissed me THE FUCK OFF OH MY GOD??! I don’t even want to say anything about her.

Cedric’s and Runo’s relationship was pretty cute which allowed me to give this 3 starts at least.

[BB · Rating 5 out of 5]

They. Were. Everything.

OMFG I already want to read it again. This was everything I wanted and needed in a book when I had no idea what either was supposed to be. These two fought and cried and denied each other and loved and laughed and were total IDIOTS (once you read it, you’ll understand) and I couldn’t put it down. Both found families were amazing in their own ways. Freaking read it!!!

[Namhla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first review I’ve been nervous about reviewing but I could not not talk about this book , infact all of Viano’s books always feel me up and leave me wanting more in the best ways Sana Yho. The characters had me giggling and kicking my feet, the pace, the plot , the spice everything about this book was perfection🤌
I will be gobbling up every one of her books and coming back for seconds

P.S
English is not my mother so please forgive any errors🫠

[Nightwitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really amazing MM paranormal/fantasy romance with a fully-realized, complex magical series, which grappled with the aftereffects of childhood abuse and emotionally abusive relationships, the nature of death and grief, and some of the scarier parts of falling in love. Lots of found family, lots of steamy scenes, really just an amazing novel.

[mo be readin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this!! The slow burn romance was soooo satisfying and erotic (my GOD that shit was 🔥) and the paranormal mystery was just as enticing! While I personally wanted a slightly different conclusion to the latter plot, it was still wonderful and helped with moving Runo and Cedric’s story forward. This is my third book by Viano and they have a huge fan in me!!!

[Gabriela · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Runo”…”that’s my name” hahfknadbjsjah

A book so good you just have to keyboard smash ;-; When I tell you I had the dopiest smile on my face for this entire book. I want to scream I loved this world so much. The love and bonds between not only the MCs but all the characters made my heart ache so good. Definitely top read for the year!

[Kayla Chitwood Harned · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
This is my first Viano Oniomoh novel, and it was very well written. Her world building, character growth, and telling of the lore was amazing. I absolutely love Rune (that's my name) and Cedric, along with all of their friends, family, and co-workers. Check your trigger warnings it has some heavy topics.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 Stars*

[Hunter Cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book

This book is just incredible in the way it shows a bond and relationship. Definitely going in my reread list!!!

[Periwinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about this book omg!!!!Cedric and Runo have my heart!

[Myramaynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books I've read this year. The worldbuilding is amazing and I loved Runo.
Cedric was annoying to me but he won me over at the end. Now, THAT was groveling.

[Marietere T · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 out 10, so fucking good.