The Blessed

by Anne Shade

Suri Daniels, a beautiful and troubled woman, is the descendant of a family of supernaturally gifted women, known as the Blessed, and literally holds keys to gateways between the earthly plane and seven powerful gods. A series of tragic losses and a stipulation in her grandmother’s will has her returning to the family’s home in New Orleans, unaware that she will need to step into the role of Orisha priestess and escape the attention of a powerful demon. To top it all off, she must accept the help of a Cambion—Lyla Jefferies, a dark supernatural being she has spent her life avoiding. What’s worse? She can’t help being drawn to Layla in ways she doesn’t understand.

Being the love child of a top-tier demon and a human isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. For the past two hundred years, Layla Jefferies has lived a life of quietude. When an unknown force draws her out of seclusion, the pull is too strong to ignore. Layla is tasked to assist with protecting the gateways and saving Suri from becoming a vengeful demon’s avatar. Falling in love with her is definitely not part of the plan.

Layla and Suri are brought together by fate to defeat the darkness threatening to tear their world apart. What they don’t expect to discover is a love that might set them free.

Genres: Queer, LGBT, Fantasy, Adult

312 pages, Paperback

Published December 10, 2024

About the author

Anne Shade loves writing romances about women who love women featuring strong, beautiful Characters of Color. Her dream is to retire and open a bed and breakfast so she can spend her days doing what she loves…providing wonderful hospitality, writing novels, and planning fabulous weddings.

Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Andrea (looseleftlesbian)]

I thought I’d give it a try, even after reading the one review. I know that there was a rape scene on the first chapter. I can handle that. I have no issue with the fact that it was written. I have a lot of issues with how Layla and grandma talked about Layla’s mom and “dad”. That was rape. That’s not a love child. Just because Layla’s mom wasn’t “forced” doesn’t mean it’s consensual. And the fact that Layla said this…”When she stood, her grandmother’s eyes widened in fear. “He has to pay, Granmama. My daddy may have tricked her, but in the end, he gave my mama a choice. Massa Jonas beat me and just took what he wanted.” “ That is what made me DNF. I was willing to look past the toxic and downright wrong view of what happened to her mom. I thought, okay, this is what the characters think but it’s not reality. But the issue is, I don’t think that the author realizes how messed up the dialogue surrounding a rape that resulted in a child.

[Skye Kilaen]

ZERO content warning from the publisher about the on-page sexual assault that happens almost immediately. "Love child" is used in the blurb to refer to the child born from this assault. On Shade's previous book, "Leather, Lace, and Locs" the same publisher stuck her with an AI cover. At this rate I'm starting to wonder why they're trying to set Shade up to fail...

[Teneisha (Teesbookjourney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Shade’s The Blessed is an enchanting mix of supernatural intrigue, family legacy, and an unexpected romance that hooked me from the first page. The story effortlessly blends the mystical atmosphere of New Orleans with a rich tapestry of African-inspired mythology, creating a setting that feels as alive as the characters themselves.
Suri is a compelling protagonist, navigating her complicated past while accepting her extraordinary heritage. Her growth throughout the book feels genuine, and her dynamic with Layla, a Cambion who is both an ally and a forbidden temptation, is both fascinating and heartfelt. Layla’s mysterious and grounded presence adds depth to their partnership, and the gradual development of trust and attraction between them feels natural and emotionally rewarding.
The plot balances action and introspection well, with high stakes that keep me invested. While the pacing occasionally feels uneven, the climactic moments more than makeup for it, delivering a satisfying payoff. I appreciated how the themes of identity, redemption, and love are woven into the narrative, adding layers to an already rich story.
Overall, The Blessed is a beautifully written and imaginative tale with unique characters and a lush setting. It’s a journey of self-discovery and love wrapped in a gripping supernatural adventure, and I thoroughly enjoyed every twist and turn.

[Samantha Gagen · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Their lives may have begun extremely differently, but they shared a history of manipulation and violence pushing them onto a path neither could have imagined treading.”

The Blessed is a unique and delightful sapphic romantasy following two powerful Black women. First we meet Layla, an enslaved child working on a pre-Emancipation Louisiana plantation, living with all of the expected horrors of the time. But after a horrific trauma (this book needs several trigger warnings), Layla discovers she has dark powers and learns that her father is a demon. A couple centuries later, her path crosses with Suri, the latest in a line of blessed women and hoodoo priestesses, who is in a bad place emotionally.

So on the one hand, this book is about the love child of a Black slave woman and an incubus demon helping to protect a hoodoo witch with immense god-given power against her possessed cousin, a corrupt and power-hungry voodoo priestess, and the queen of the demons. But on the other hand, it’s really about the healing power of love, female empowerment, and the powerful beauty of community.

I will admit, at times I found the writing style quite difficult to enjoy and while I enjoyed the characters and plot, it was hard to get into at first. The first few chapters from Suri’s perspective were particularly cumbersome for me, since I didn’t know much about African/hoodoo spiritual tradition. In the beginning, the worldbuilding felt a bit clunky at times, with lots of exposition in big chunks. That being said, I’m glad I continued reading past those parts so I could enjoy the beauty that came out of it.

Truthfully though, for as heavily focussed the first half of the book is on the African/hoodoo details, the majority of this story really focuses on the relationship between Layla and Suri. The spirituality provides a fantastic background for their character development and interpersonal journey of healing, empowerment, and love.

Overall, this book did have a lot of things going for it. It had some moments of real power that beautifully conveyed the long history of trauma and recovery in the Black community. Layla and Suri were great main characters with kind hearts, fierce spirits, and generous souls. The spicy scenes were enjoyable, with interesting supernatural twists to entice any romantasy reader. Although not without its flaws, it is a heartwarming story of empowered Black women choosing lightness over the dark for the betterment of their community and the wider world, all the while finding love, happiness, family, and belonging.

Tropes/CW:
Slavery (Louisiana 1823)
Sexual assault/child molestation of a 15-year-old girl
Dual POV
Grief and loss
Miscarriage
Light vs dark
Sapphic romance
Spicy scenes
Fated mates
HEA

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colourful and exciting!

Suri is a descendant of a family of the Blessed, who are supernaturally gifted. She ends up returning to her Grandmother’s home in New Orleans after it is stipulated in her will and she has suffered through some personal tragedies involving her loved ones. But there she faces a dark and powerful demon and can only achieve what she must by working with Layla, who happens to be a demon herself.

Such a brilliant story about the supernatural that really gave a full picture of Suri’s life up until the point she found herself in New Orleans, then delivered on embarking on a thrilling adventure into the supernatural. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Suri, and could tell how special she was from the moment we were introduced. When she then met Layla the chemistry they shared was undeniable. There was so much not only for Suri still to learn about her abilities and her powers, but for her to learn about Layla and them being involved with one another beyond the situation with the demon she needed to defeat.

Layla, for a demon was engaging and actually very laid back and well-tempered. I admired her respect for Suri and what their involvement with one another could result in if they didn’t approach the situation with care. She really showed how important Suri and her mission was to her, but also for keeping her safe, which was Layla’s main focus. I understood how with all the chemistry and connection they shared it was easy to get distracted, but when they did their being together was just off the charts. I adored them together and just hoped nothing would get in the way of them finding a way to do that and achieve to keep safe.

The air of mystery surrounding the way Layla and Suri were drawn to one another really gave the story that extra level of push and pull that had me eager to find out if happiness could be in their future.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖: The Blessed-a standalone

✍️ By: Anne Shade-new to me author

📃 Page Count : 312 eBook

🗓️ Publication Date: 12-10-24 | Read 12-5-24

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books, Inc | BSB genre, and Anne Shade for this ARC 💜! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

🌎Setting: NY and LA

Genre: LGBTQIA+ Romance, Fantasy/Sci Fi

Tropes: AA rep, supernatural creatures, fated mates, a quest/duty, found family, good vs evil, Halloween, magic, sapphic romance

☝🏾POV: dual, 3rd person- beginning told in 3 timelines LA 1823, NY 1995, and LA 2023

⚠️TW: slavery, SA, SV, death of loved ones, bullying, murder

💭Summary: Suri and Layla are fated to meet and join forces as priestess and protector to fulfil their destinies. Suri is a "blessed one" like many women in her family-all with supernatural powers. Layla is a half demon with her own powers. Together they battle evil forces set to destroy the world.

🚺Heroine: Suri Daniels- descendant of supernatural gifted women "the blessed." An Orisha priestess and maternity ward nurse.

🚺Heroine: Layla Jeffries-200-year-old former slave, demon halfling/cambion, Suri's protector, has a cat familiar Sebastian

🎭Side cast:

• Pearl Shields-Suri's grandmother(deceased)

• Robert-Suri's uncle

• Aria-Robert's daughter, estranged from her family

• Ruth and Isfet-Layla's parents- her mother is human, and her father is a demon incubus

• Sojourn-a psychologist, starts a cult for dark magic, and becomes Aria's mentor

• Cora Lee-former slave, Layla's companion for 60 years

• Phoebe-Pearl's BFF and guide for Suri in New Orleans. She's also a priestess who practices voodoo and hoodoo

• Phoebe's coven: Leandra (a fairy halfling), Rory (a warlock/hoodoo practitioner), Cassandra (a necromancer), Kenya (a werepanther)

•Bettina-Layla's friend, a werepanther promoted to pack leader

•Lilith-the mother of demons


🤔My Thoughts: I loved Layla and Suri's journey to each other. With help from their families and friends they find true love in each other, and defeat Lilith. I loved the epilogue with a tease of another book, maybe?

Range of emotions: 😬🤔🙄
🌶️: Spice 5/5
😭: Emotion 5/5
❤️: Couple 5/5
⭐️: Rating 4/5

[Beatrice Tibaldini · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this novel. That’s why I tried until the very last page to find something truly exciting that would make me feel satisfied with having read it. However, I was disappointed, and it's hard to admit that a book with such good potential was executed so... poorly.

The problem isn't at all the rape scene, which opens the story and marks much of my disappointment. Not so much the scene itself, but how it was handled. I mean... really? An entire narrative is built around toxic behavior, and there’s no meaningful or well-executed dialogue about the issue. No, I’m sorry, but I don’t think the characterization of the characters or the scenes was thought out or conveyed most appropriately. In fact, I’m really wary of books like this because they cast more shadows than light on the topics they aim to address.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[KELLY A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly appreciate The Blessed.

Shade creates a magical world where dieties, demons, and powerful humans collide.

There are kickass protagonists, steamy scenes, and lots of joy--despite the looming threats and darkness.

What I especially appreciate is that the author dispels illusions of a perfect world and eternally gleaming history.

Shade weaves in the rape of Black women, the legacy of people being stolen and enslaved, and generational loss, survival, spirituality, and hope into a vibrant storied tapestry.

As a reader who seeks diverse, authentic voices, I appreciate The Blessed book.

[Aleana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

This was a good read despite the first chapter it’s was not a love affair that create Layla I’m just going leave it at that. Suri and Layla is brought together by fate they both are to defeat the darkness that’s is threatening to tear their world apart but neither plan on falling for each other in the process but will they be able save the world and be able to be free. I like how the author dives into the supernatural world and how it’s works.

[Marietere T · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll say the first chapter of this was rough without content warning, and it did set the tone for the book. I won't say this is the best thing I have ever read but it's also not the worse. I understood some of the parts of this book and why she did what she did in the first chapter.

I did like the magical elements and the whole magical world. It was quite interesting, like so much so. It was like I said a very interesting book.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Toya (thereadingchemist) · Rating 1 out of 5]

WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK.

The synopsis says "Being the love child of a top-tier demon and a human isn’t all it’s cracked up to be."

The love child in question was born after a slave master brutally raped a 15 year old enslaved girl during the first chapter of this damn book. No content warning or anything. I guess this author is confused by the definition of love child because last time I checked, a child born from rape doesn't qualify.

[Jayce · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️
1.5 🌶️

NOTE: I received this book as an ARC. As other reviews mentioned, there was no trigger warning in the ARC. I believe one has been added to the published book.

This book had so many things in it that excited me. I loved the idea of a queer, black love romance steeped in the Yoruba people's religion. I was chomping at the bit!

Unfortunately, the pacing of this book was its downfall. For how much happens it felt lacking in action. Many of the scenes felt like extended exposition. "I'm telling you about your new role in your family's legacy" "I'm learning about my true power" "Here's the story of my last relationship" Even to moments of action felt lacking in action. The intimate scenes were short. The quests felt truncated.

I loved all the things I expected to enjoy. Looking into the Orisha and learning as the story unfolded who we were meeting was spectacular. Many of these gods were new to me, and I loved how Suri related to each one differently. Her family's role in the magic system was unique. The strong women she comes from gave her circumstances gravitas.

Layla has a difficult start in this book. I appreciate the changes the author made between the ARCs and the release. I'm a champion for content warnings in all romance, not just dark romance. Her campion heritage was handled well, and I thought her relationship with her parents was a heartwarming juxtaposition Suri's.

But the pacing. It made the experience of reading feel slow and plodding. It might be exactly the kind of writing someone else is looking for, but I felt like it took me twice as long to finish as I was easily bored with the pace and distracted by...anything else.