This Blood that Breaks Us

This Blood That Binds Us #3

by S.L. Cokeley

You can never escape your past.

And Zach and Luke Calem are tired of running. With Blackheart in the rearview, they arrive at their new home with The Family in Northern Ireland.

Luke tries to stay away from the queen but finds it an impossible task. Leveraging his influence, he keeps the people closest to him safe, yet struggles to reconcile the person he desires to be with the role he must evolve into. Meanwhile, Zach will do anything to keep his brother from falling apart—except confront his own inner demons. Loyalty to Luke is questioned following a complicated relationship with the queen, and the twins grapple with their strengthening blood bond.

In the wake of Ascension—their induction into The Guard—their bond is tested as The Family closes in on fulfilling prophecy. Will Zach and Luke remain true to themselves and each other, or will fate prove stronger than brotherly blood?

What will break first?

The secret world of The Family is revealed. This haunting third installment of the This Blood that Binds Us series is darker than ever before. And part one to This Blood that Bonds Us, the fourth and final book in the series. Find heartbreaking family bonds that will leave you coming back for more.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Romantasy, Paranormal, Audiobook, Dark Romance

409 pages, Paperback

Published November 12, 2024

About the author

Samantha Cokeley was raised in a small town in Oklahoma. Growing up, she always had an active imagination and an interest in crafting stories. She developed a love for writing after college when she discovered anime and fan fiction. If she isn’t spending time painting colorful sea creatures, you can find her with family, including her pug named Kylo. The This Blood that Binds Us series ends this year. But you can expect many more stories with vampires, heartwarming found family, and fluff to come.

Reviews

[Danielle Douglas-Bergmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who’s been following the TBTBU universe from the start, I fell in love with the softness and all of the brotherly love and the romance, so I was a little nervous this book wouldn’t be my favorite seeing as the main couple isn’t a part of this story at all. However, YALL, when I tell you I was BLOWN AWAY by this story. I devoured it in 2 days, I couldn’t put it down, I felt like I didn’t want to leave the characters and the story, and now over a month later I really never stop talking about this book. It has taken top spot in my ranking of the series which just proves what a great story is being told here because again, no romance and it is still my favorite!!

Book Three follows Zach and Luke and their journey deeper into The Family. The lore was amazing, the brotherly love was my favorite. They’re both trying to desperately to save each other, even if it kills them. This book shattered my heart into a million pieces and I said thank you when it was finished lol. I can’t wait to be hurt all over again when I reread. 5 stars again and again, I can’t wait to see what book 4 has in store for us!

[Rebecca Dee Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in a series so can't help but spoiling up until now, but no real spoilers for this book

We take a switch in POV for this book and join the twins, Luke and Zach as they are taken away in service of the Queen

The Fates of Will and Thane are also tied to their own and they can only hope that Aaron, Kimberley and Presley are coping okay back home

Both boys struggle with settling into their new 'Family' but they still have each other, right?!

The Queen is determined to get what she wants from both boys and will their Bonds be a help or a hindrance in this....

This was a great book, very dark in tone compared to the previous two books, not only in setting but as we are following the two older brothers now, they have seen and done so much more

This is out on Tuesday 12 November so not long to wait if you've been waiting to read this one... and I cannot wait until December to finish this series

Thanks to SL Cokeley for the review copy as part of the Street Team, all opinions my own regardless

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Blood That Breaks Us by S.L. Cokeley
Book 3 of 4
5 stars

arc read
pub date | 11/12/2024

Tropes:
💜 Vampires
💜 Dual POV
💜 Brother Story
💜Vampire Cult & Romance

* Tried to make a not spoiler for books 1 + 2, but its book 3 so kinda hard*

The pretty pink vampire books are slowly transitioning in colors and emotions. We are now in our lavender haze era with Luke + Zach. We met them in book 1 and 2 but didn't really get their pov and that is what book 3 is all about. It also picks up right where book 2 left off and gives you the tiniest amount of closure, jk, my heart still hurts.

These books are the vanilla of vampire romance and I need a group of the Calem boys in my life. College frat boys gone vampire cult, and the cult honestly pisses me off but our boys endure for the love of their brothers. Plus the Presley letters TOOK. ME. OUT. Please know you will be ready to scream cry and possibly throw the book across the room as this one comes to a close and I 10/10 recommend.

I think book 3 went a lot more down an emotional dark road and we got to see mental health representation in our boys and sometimes its okay to not be okay. My heart was skipping every other chapter because of the emotional chokehold this book kept me in. THANKS SAMANTHA.

[Niya Raine ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

No hesitation, this book out of the series so far is the closest to my heart. I absolutely loved reading from both the twin’s POVS in this story. Early on I could tell the author put her heart and soul into these pages.
This book focuses heavily on mental health, and as someone who experiences the same anxieties as these characters- it was orchestrated beautifully and made the twins even more relatable while reading. Going into more depth with their individual feelings and tribulations definitely added to the story as a whole.
This one is definitely a tear jerker, especially if you are someone that shares deep rooted familial love for siblings. ( so be sure to grab your tissues! )
Overall, I truly enjoyed the way this played out and how it set up for book four. I gained new favorite characters, more insight into the world of TBTBU, and fell back in love with the series from this arc.
Now to start the countdown for the final installment…💜

[Dakota · Rating 5 out of 5]

arc review🩷

I think this series honestly just keeps getting better and better. I adored this one. Although it was a very dark and sad read. I just want all the brothers to be happy. I loved getting this book in just Luke and Zach’s pov. We get so much more of their backstory in this one.

The relationships in this series are done so well. It’s really shown how much they all care for one another. Especially the bond between Luke and Zach!

With how this one ended i’m happy we only have to wait a month for the next one. Im just sad the series is going to be over after it.

I did also love getting the small parts from Presley. He’s my favorite Calem brother. I am so ready though to see how the story continues!

[Jordan or anzai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This comment contains spoilers, so please don't read it if you don't like spoilers! This is my rating for the blood that breaks us

Spoilers!

Stars ♾️/
Spice ♾️/10
Charcters ♾️/10
Plot ♾️/10

Chapter 1, I feel so bad for Luke and Zach, having to leave their brothers behind and others they cared about. But Ezra & Liam are so annoying to me, is all I gotta say 😂. Chapter 2, Luke I feel so bad for Luke. Everything is always pushed onto him and not anyone else, but at least he has his twin to fall back on ❤️. Chapter three, I loved the mention of stained glass detail, but again, I feel for Luke; he is the one the queen likes most, and he gets tranced into her. Tbh, I despise the queen. Hate her for traumatizing Luke and all of them the way she has.
“Exactly. And I don’t care how selfish it is either.” He wiped his face. “If you go, I go. That’s the way it is.”🥹
A Sirius gets on my nerves to 😑. I feel so bad for Will, thane, and Connell. They did nothing wrong 😔😭. NO, NOT TWO MONTHS LATER 😭😭
Tbh, I had to mark every chapter to remember who was who because, duh, memory problems 🤣😂. I just love the bonds between them so much they truly care for each other and show it every way they can. And they miss their brothers so much. They all need a big hug 🥺. But Sirius, my dude I despise you and almost everyone in this cult. Connell is just so brainwashed it ain't funny.

“Cult parties. Much more sophisticated." 😂

Personally, in my opinion, Ezra and the queen need to get hit by a bus. After what the queen told him to do. I felt so bad for Luke 🥺. I didn't expect it. But did in another sense, if that makes any sense 🤔 😂.
I just wanted to sob for all of them, and did sob.But the end, kinda shocked me I didn't expect it, but at the same time somewhat did

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Dying all the feels.

This is the third installment of tbtbu... To say that my heart broke every ten pages would have been an understatement. I don't think i have ever, ever felt so much for two characters and what they got though in this book. If kids, work and responsibilities weren't a thing in my life I'd have read this in a single day.
Loved this book so looking forward and dreading the last book coming out because this story and characters that I have come to love will be over.

[Katie Redding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am.... Unwell. This book tore me apart.
ARC Review
I think this has been my favorite book in the series so far! We get a much more in depth look at the bond and relationship between Luke and Zach( who are my second favorite characters after Presley). Getting to see the war of emotions the twins go through this book made the story so much more in depth and intriguing for me. Zach wants to do everything in his power to protect Luke and Luke just wants to know where he belongs and what he should do. The twist at the end actually made me take a second and compose myself, the gasp that left my mouth was so loud I startled my dog. I can not wait to see what is in store for us in the next book. Many tears were shed while reading and I bet the next will also bring more tears.

Two of my favorite quotes where:
"She was a false god, and I would not rest till I tore Her fucking throat out."

"If loving my brother to the extinction of myself was a sin, I'd have done it again and again. This place would continue on without us. They'd find another set of twins to that spot. We weren't so chosen after all. That's what they'd say anyways"

[Kayla Faris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reviewing an ARC copy. This book was amazing. I couldn’t put it down. I loved the first two books just as much as this book. It was well worth the read in my opinion!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love these characters so much that this was painful to read

[Eli Jane]

it gets a 0.5, at least i finished it…

[Katelyn Neeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

LEGENDARY CRASH OUT
I LOVE THESE BOOKS

[Kendal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

I know the author has been very upfront about how this book would break our hearts but I still feel tricked with how much this book ruined me.

I just want to take Zach and Luke and wrap them up and never let anything bad happen to them again. Poor boys deserved better than the world gave them.

This book really dealt with their emotions beautifully and I loved getting into their twisted little heads.

[tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

probably a 3.5 verging on being a 4 star read. i really enjoyed having more focus on zach and luke in this book and their dependence on each other was explored quite well. i also enjoyed the insight into the antagonists.

i feel like a lot of my questions from earlier books were starting to be answered in this book, which is a win. however it was left on a full cliff hanger and a fair few holes were left in the plot which could either be a good sign for the next book or a massive oversight.

i will say i wish this book had a perspective from the other characters because the letters didn’t give much away and i really want the next book to just pick up where this one ends which i don’t think will happen (will update when i know).

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly, I didn’t really care for this story. I thought I’d enjoy learning more about the twins, but I missed all the other brothers and side characters I enjoy more. Also, in the audio version, the voice the male narrator used for the Queen was absolutely awful — I honestly would’ve preferred if he had just used his normal voice.

[Jalen Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I’m unwell and emotionally unstable.
This book. Where do I even begin. I loved getting to see the story through the twins’ POVs. They offered a welcome emotional contrast to the typically upbeat feel of Aaron and Kimberly’s POVs. That being said, I think I was in tears every other chapter.
The mental health representation in this really spoke to me because I’m not someone who expresses “negative” emotions very well and for the first time I felt like I was seen through Zach and Luke’s struggles.
This book is definitely my favorite in the series, I cannot wait to see what This Blood That Bonds Us has in store and I’m curious to see how the series will ultimately conclude.

[Amanda Dimeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. GOD!
This whole series already had my heart and soul! 💜 I WAS ALREADY OBSESSED! But this book right here? This book pushed my emotions to a whole new level. After slowly coming to love the twins during book 1 & 2, coming to know and UNDERSTAND them at the fullest during this book hit me like a bag of bricks. 🧱

This book was heavy on my heart, I swear I cried every few pages but the way i connected with the twins is just so raw! The mental health representation was done with so much care and it was painful and beautiful at the same time!

I can’t wait to read the final installment of this series! I already know its gonna be a wild ride.

[Trinity · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*
I thought this was going to be refreshing because we got new povs. I was so excited to read from Luke and Zach's view, but the story was a lot of the same over and over again. I'm still very excited to see how this story ends but this was my least fav book in this series.

[Lu Lemos · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, I missed Aaron, Kim and Press way too much to fully immerse and enjoy this one

[Kerstan Dorsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely a “filler book” but it was so depressing at the same time. Good thing I have the fourth book to start asap

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, nothing happened again. Until the end. But in this case, the whole thing was needed. I think we needed to see it that way to really understand the ending of this book. Would I still keep reading if it didn’t need to be that way? Yep! I like the fluff. I didn’t know what this was Zach and Luke, that we’d leave Aaron and Kimberly and Presley behind. Kind of sad. But I did appreciate this book. It really was trying to find anything in a bad situation. And spoiler, it’s just bad. But I think that’s the point. We’ll see in the next one. Without their point of view, I don’t think we’d understand the gravity of everything going on. I miss Presley. But I did love Connell. And I think I like Zach the most, which is interesting because I’m the least like him. Normally I gravitate towards characters that I see the strongest pieces of myself in, but I guess not this time. (Unless my subconscious is trying to tell me something….in that case, uh, what?!) I still struggled with the emotional ups and downs of the story. It still feels choppy to me; the emotional build up just isn’t there and it’s like all of a sudden you’re in this new emotional scene. Honestly, there’s still many times where I feel like I missed something, like my mind wandered and I need to reread, but there’s never anything missing. If it’s supposed to be a shock and awe thing, it really doesn’t work for, what is ultimately, really sweet books. Other than that, writing is getting better and I liked this one the best so far. On to the last one! =)

[Elie Quiroz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This took me longer to read than normal. I didn't want to see the twins hurt, but this book is so spellbinding, that I couldn't give up.

Now with the Queen, Luke and Zach are tested. Can they trust anyone, let alone each other?

This was a very dark turn in the third installment as we get Luke's and Zach's POV and get into the depth of The Family. Ascension is close at hand and the boys will need to decide if they want to continue to fight the bond or give in and take their roles in The Guard.

I felt their turmoil throughout this book, so I struggled with it. I wanted them to escape so many times and I knew the possibility was very low. I was hopeful that maybe they could get out and reunite with Presley and Aaron.

The ending though? I knew Presley was going to do something stupid, from his letter alone, but I didn't think he would do something that stupid. Even if it did help Luke and Zach come back to themselves.

I am so full of dread for the last book, but at the same time, I need the last book like I need air.



*** I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily ***

[Wren Millick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, maybe I’m just enthralled by this author and these characters, but WOW. I started reading this series after I saw a tik tok by the author advertising it as a soft, light hearted story with an interesting mystery. To be honest, the first book wasn’t my favorite, but the second book definitely raised my expectations from this author. Now this third book… I cannot wait to read the concluding book to this series. The stakes were raised, the plots were thickened, the characters were fleshed out, and the tears were OVERFLOWING. I was afraid that I was going to get bored of this story since it only follows Zack and Luke, but I was proven wrong. The brotherly bond was extremely interesting to follow as the book basically took the two through hell. The “Divine Path” and its corresponding mythology was greatly expanded on and the importance of the characters decisions felt exponentially greater than any of the other books.

This book was seriously so entertaining and was a massive help in world and character building for this series. I can’t wait to read the next one!

[Brat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the insight into the twins throughout the first two books and I could not wait for their story. This Blood That Breaks Us absolutely did not disappoint! You can feel the heart and soul put into this book in every page, and it was an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish! Delving into Zach and Lukes’ pasts and getting to learn more about their characters was so raw, powerful and heartfelt. You can feel the love they have for each other and their family with every interaction, not to mention the snippets from Presley throughout! This book is such a vital representation of mental health and will grip you by the heart and not let go. I cannot get enough of this series and the Calem brothers and I cannot wait to read the final book, and then read them all again!

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly loved the first two books of this series and have been waiting to get my hands on the last two books since they came out!!

I knew that we would get into Luke and Zach’s story and everything they have to go through after being captured and forced to come into their ‘destined paths’. It was a draining book to get through only because of the topics at hand and everything they are dealing with. It was a lot of bouncing back in forth between fighting against their desires to serve, but keeping their sanity — and I got frustrated.

There were moments when I missed the rest of the gang, especially Kimberly since she has her own thing to sort through after being turned and I’m definitely ready to go back to her and Aaron’s POV just to break up all the heaviness that this book carried

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

“With my brother, I was in the safest place in the world. Zach didn’t need me to be anything. Just alive, and that I could do. Even if it was like this. Painful. Tedious.”

If you know anything about me, you’d know that I don’t cry a lot. That being said, I probably cried 5 times whilst reading this so there’s that. Also Cokeley writes manipulative relationships SOOO well, and how strong the temptation of the family (a cult) can be. They target desperate, defenseless people, and use that desperation as fuel to create an unhealthy attachment.

The ending actually killed me, I’m terrified to read book four.

[Jordan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦!

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘶𝘴 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⚠️𝙳𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚒𝚏 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎’𝚜 𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚜 ⚠️

“𝙽𝚘. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙸’𝚍 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚎𝚙𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚏𝚏 𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝚆𝚎’𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍. 𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚊 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚣𝚘𝚘”

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴! 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘵, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘶𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘡𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘐𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥

𝘐𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 3 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵’�� 𝘰𝘬 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘬! 𝘐𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴!

𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥?

[Arabella Kimmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This only took me this long to finish because of college finals

OMG THIS BOOK
FORST WE GET LUKE AND ZACH POVS PLUS LETTER ENTRIES FROM PRESLEY

I LOVED THE FIRST TWO BOOKS IN THE SERIES AND SO TO SEE A NEW SIDE OF THE CHARACTERS WE SAW IN THE FIRST TWO 💋💋💋💋

This book to me had a lot more emotional scenes but I think it was nessecary to show Luke and Zach as people. They’ve been through a lot and we never knew the full extent before this book.

We see the brothers really brother and take care of each other in this hell.

So excited to conclude the series with book 4

I love S.L Cokeley her books just consume me I’m so excited for her next works toooooo

[Lowrie Mollison · Rating 4 out of 5]

The internal battles that Luck and Zach face throughout this journey is heartbreaking. How they face the abuse and manipulation, whilst still trying to maintain their beliefs and hopes is beautiful. The familial bond between Luke, Zach and Presley is strong as although you can see the distance increasing between them, there is still loyalty and love between them. The one part that I found difficult to accept was how little the twins considered Aaron, and Presley was disregarding Aaron and how he was trying.
I love each of the characters and the fact they all have their own developments and set-backs to face is what makes you want to keep reading.

[ghostlypeach_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

As book 3 in a series I love, I honestly had more hope and higher expectations for this book. I was always apprehensive with having a book solely from Luke and Zach because, even though I love them both as side characters, I didn't know how I would fair with them as MCs

Theres a lot of heavy stuff in this book. The twins go through a lot and it is an emotional read to see how they have so much fight in them at the start which they then lose by the end.

Theres a lot of repetition for me (Zach hating her then loving her then being stopped by Luke) so I got bored really quickly and felt myself edging towards a slump.

Overall it is okay but I expected more