What do you think?
Rate this book
Blood Tethered #1
Blood Tethered
“Just get your teeth in me already, blood boy. I have places to be.”
Theo Fairgood is the golden boy. Popular, athletic, and determined to uphold his family’s good name.
Kade Renfield is trouble. Black clothes, fast fists and a bad attitude. He’s waiting for his grand story to start, but until then he’s stuck chasing highs, crashing parties and snarling at anyone who stares.
They should only cross paths when Theo trips Kade in the halls.
But when Theo gets attacked by a horrifying creature at his own party, Kade is the only one who can drag him to safety. It turns out he shouldn’t have. Theo is fine. Bloodthirsty and, you know, dead - but otherwise fine.
Kade tries to stay away. But vampire venom is addictive, and Theo doesn’t have anyone else who knows his thirsty secret. They grudgingly strike a Theo feeds on Kade. Kade gets the best high he’s ever had and no withdrawal sweats. And since they’re trapped together, they might as well team up and find out who turned Theo, who murdered an old man the night of the party, and why Theo’s touch burns Kade but no one else.
As they unravel the mysteries of their strange hometown, the most startling discovery is that Kade is soft under all his spikes, and Theo can be gentle when he isn’t around his jock friends. They might actually enjoy each other’s company when Theo doesn’t have his fangs in Kade’s neck.
The golden boy and the town freak can’t be together. They can’t even be friends. But they’re the only ones who can protect each other as their enemy’s plans are revealed and the boys discover they’re linked in ways they could never have imagined.
Blood Tethered is the first book in a LGBT vampire romance YA trilogy full of forced proximity, banter and blood-drinking.
Theo Fairgood is the golden boy. Popular, athletic, and determined to uphold his family’s good name.
Kade Renfield is trouble. Black clothes, fast fists and a bad attitude. He’s waiting for his grand story to start, but until then he’s stuck chasing highs, crashing parties and snarling at anyone who stares.
They should only cross paths when Theo trips Kade in the halls.
But when Theo gets attacked by a horrifying creature at his own party, Kade is the only one who can drag him to safety. It turns out he shouldn’t have. Theo is fine. Bloodthirsty and, you know, dead - but otherwise fine.
Kade tries to stay away. But vampire venom is addictive, and Theo doesn’t have anyone else who knows his thirsty secret. They grudgingly strike a Theo feeds on Kade. Kade gets the best high he’s ever had and no withdrawal sweats. And since they’re trapped together, they might as well team up and find out who turned Theo, who murdered an old man the night of the party, and why Theo’s touch burns Kade but no one else.
As they unravel the mysteries of their strange hometown, the most startling discovery is that Kade is soft under all his spikes, and Theo can be gentle when he isn’t around his jock friends. They might actually enjoy each other’s company when Theo doesn’t have his fangs in Kade’s neck.
The golden boy and the town freak can’t be together. They can’t even be friends. But they’re the only ones who can protect each other as their enemy’s plans are revealed and the boys discover they’re linked in ways they could never have imagined.
Blood Tethered is the first book in a LGBT vampire romance YA trilogy full of forced proximity, banter and blood-drinking.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2025
34 people are currently reading
441 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 25, 2025
Gonna be so honest, moaning when your highschool bully takes to biting your neck has to be gay. And I’m here for it.
Welcome to the story that has it all.
Teen angst.
Vampires.
Gay rep.
Bi rep.
More angst?
I had a blast reading this one, to the point where I had to take the last chunk of the book (read: the last 60%) and just keep reading until it was over.
And now I feel empty inside, because I’m really impressed with these characters. There’s something to people who are both entirely their stereotypes and at the same time really unique and interesting. Everyone seems to have layers in this one, and it both made it so interesting to read - and a little frustrating. Mostly because I wanted to have guessed more of the plot before it happened. That’s on me, I’ll try harder with the next one.
I received this book as an ARC, and I am so happy i did. I loved the book, I liked the characters and I thought the world was cool. But I haven’t met a book by this author that I haven’t really liked, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at this point.
Welcome to the story that has it all.
Teen angst.
Vampires.
Gay rep.
Bi rep.
More angst?
I had a blast reading this one, to the point where I had to take the last chunk of the book (read: the last 60%) and just keep reading until it was over.
And now I feel empty inside, because I’m really impressed with these characters. There’s something to people who are both entirely their stereotypes and at the same time really unique and interesting. Everyone seems to have layers in this one, and it both made it so interesting to read - and a little frustrating. Mostly because I wanted to have guessed more of the plot before it happened. That’s on me, I’ll try harder with the next one.
I received this book as an ARC, and I am so happy i did. I loved the book, I liked the characters and I thought the world was cool. But I haven’t met a book by this author that I haven’t really liked, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at this point.
January 24, 2025
Ooooooh, boy. This one was _gooood_. Mouthwatering, even.
This book is for you if:
❤️🔥you like high school romances, with a bonus of sunshine x black cat
❤️🔥you like vampires, with interesting lore behind them that's unusual and, ahem, juicy
❤️🔥you are looking for a book that'll keep you glued to the pages.
Theo, the golden boy loved by the whole town for being a star athelete.
And Kade, the human equivalent of a wet rat. If the rat were drunk and had an excellent taste in clothes.
Two worlds colliding not by choice, but by need. What could possibly go wrong?
I liked the characters, and the banter. I hope we'll see more of Aaron in the future books, it would be great to see how his situation pans out.
Also, a cute infernal-looking puppy.
Finally, and spoiler: I hope Theo's parents have only unpleasant days. May they step in the puppy's poo and never be able to wash away the smell.
Thank you to the author for the ARC copy!
This book is for you if:
❤️🔥you like high school romances, with a bonus of sunshine x black cat
❤️🔥you like vampires, with interesting lore behind them that's unusual and, ahem, juicy
❤️🔥you are looking for a book that'll keep you glued to the pages.
Theo, the golden boy loved by the whole town for being a star athelete.
And Kade, the human equivalent of a wet rat. If the rat were drunk and had an excellent taste in clothes.
Two worlds colliding not by choice, but by need. What could possibly go wrong?
I liked the characters, and the banter. I hope we'll see more of Aaron in the future books, it would be great to see how his situation pans out.
Also, a cute infernal-looking puppy.
Finally, and spoiler: I hope Theo's parents have only unpleasant days. May they step in the puppy's poo and never be able to wash away the smell.
Thank you to the author for the ARC copy!
January 31, 2025
I loved this one so much. I’m addicted to the premise (it’s delicious, especially with the boys not being able to touch).
Theo and Kade are endearing MCs. They both have a public persona they must uphold (Theo is the golden boy, and Kade is the “Monster” burnout goth kid), but underneath it all they have unique interests that they think are too “nerdy” to reveal. Theo’s love of plants made me smile and so did Kade’s passion for fashion and crafting.
Blood Tethered is exciting in its own right but also does a nice job setting up the trilogy. There’s a bigger mystery to unravel and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
(Also, I love that Milly is in this — I remember her from the Honeybloods series.)
Overall Rating: 🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
Spice Rating: 🌶️ (no actual spice but I’m giving one chili for sensual blood drinking).
Follow me on Instagram
Theo and Kade are endearing MCs. They both have a public persona they must uphold (Theo is the golden boy, and Kade is the “Monster” burnout goth kid), but underneath it all they have unique interests that they think are too “nerdy” to reveal. Theo’s love of plants made me smile and so did Kade’s passion for fashion and crafting.
Blood Tethered is exciting in its own right but also does a nice job setting up the trilogy. There’s a bigger mystery to unravel and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
(Also, I love that Milly is in this — I remember her from the Honeybloods series.)
Overall Rating: 🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
Spice Rating: 🌶️ (no actual spice but I’m giving one chili for sensual blood drinking).
Follow me on Instagram
September 18, 2025
I just couldn't.
I got to almost half of it, but this was so bad
Everything was extremely clichê and honestly badly written. I should have just stopped when I understood that this was going to be a bullies-to-lovers romance, but honestly, even then, I wanted to give it a chance.
The dialogue is so awkward and unnatural, and the book was definitely too long for how much stuff was actually happening in it.
I liked Kade, but I really did hate Theo, and his friends, and even that one badly written professor. Honestly, even Kade was a walking clichê (a skinny one! The book needs you to understand how skinny he is!), but I liked that he was a Brit, I guess.
It also kinda feels like it is written just for the "good stuff"? Kissing, biting, sexy stuff with even the characters insisting on making these awkward as fuck jokes about it.
But hey, at least everyone here is bisexual, so I guess that makes this book better. At the end of the day it is my fault for having such high expectations.
I got to almost half of it, but this was so bad
Everything was extremely clichê and honestly badly written. I should have just stopped when I understood that this was going to be a bullies-to-lovers romance, but honestly, even then, I wanted to give it a chance.
The dialogue is so awkward and unnatural, and the book was definitely too long for how much stuff was actually happening in it.
I liked Kade, but I really did hate Theo, and his friends, and even that one badly written professor. Honestly, even Kade was a walking clichê (a skinny one! The book needs you to understand how skinny he is!), but I liked that he was a Brit, I guess.
It also kinda feels like it is written just for the "good stuff"? Kissing, biting, sexy stuff with even the characters insisting on making these awkward as fuck jokes about it.
But hey, at least everyone here is bisexual, so I guess that makes this book better. At the end of the day it is my fault for having such high expectations.
January 12, 2025
fellas, is it gay to moan when your high school bully (and recently turned vampire) feeds on you?? asking for a friend (kade renfield).
queer? check.
vampires? check.
"enemies"-to-lovers? check.
forced proximity? check.
"mostly-i-hate-the-way-i-don't-hate-you" vibes? check.
the softest, slowest, slowburn to ever burn? check.
please pre-order this asap. it'll be on kindle unlimited!!
queer? check.
vampires? check.
"enemies"-to-lovers? check.
forced proximity? check.
"mostly-i-hate-the-way-i-don't-hate-you" vibes? check.
the softest, slowest, slowburn to ever burn? check.
please pre-order this asap. it'll be on kindle unlimited!!
March 29, 2025
ARC Review!
"Thirteen hours before Theo Fairgood died, he woke up early to hang party decorations." - First line of the book! Had me laughing and thinking back to other works by this author!
Theo is THE golden boy of Lock. Perfect grades, athletic, rich and powerful parents, etc. Everyone wants to be around him, seen with him, and just bask in his aura. That is except for Kade who would rather die. He just wants to get through the miserable high school years so his real life and adventure can begin. But surviving high school isn't for the faint of heart. Growling, fighting, and barking at everyone will only go so far.
Everything changes when Kade crashes yet another party and saves Theo, though "golden boy" didn't need saving at all. Seems like the mysteries monster who attacked Theo was a vampire and Theo is no longer human!? Kade has chased many highs in his short life, but nothing has even come close to vampire venom. A begrudging, slightly blackmail-ish, deal is struck between the two that will soon change a lot of things including their views on the world. Mysteries need to be solved, town secrets revealed and does Kade actually have a soft/gentle side?!
"U STAY SOFT, U GET EATEN" - One of Kade's many handmade shirts! (I need it!)
Belle has become one of my favorite authors and a friend! I'm always excited to see what new book she has written. Just the combination of horror, goth, high school opposites, small town vibes, and so much more! I love how she writes her characters and the growth of her writing with each new book! I love vampires and the way Belle writes them in her YA books is fantastic! Also, the first time I read and relooked at Kade all I could think of was Ashton Greymoore from Critical Role. Though Kade is more goth than punk.
"Hey, under this skinny form lies a musclebound beast." - Kade
Coming from a sports oriented small town I could relate to Kade on a lot of levels. Art and creativity are swallowed whole by the need to be number one in all of the sports categories. Money being freely given and poured into sports while everywhere else suffered. Not to mention being any part of the LGBTQ+ flag was hush-hush. Kade has figured out tactics on how to survive the day-to-day life of high school but it's wearing on him. Dubbed the town freak doesn't help anything and he has a reputation. There are no secrets in small towns.
Theo's character made me sad because I saw a mirror of things I went through. He has to be perfect and present himself in a way that won't disappoint his parents or bring dishonor to the Fairgood name. He's been going on this path for a while and has found some things uncomfortable but not enough to detour him from his pre-assigned destination. Not until he dies and gets tied up with Kade. Now his world is expanding and he's beginning to rethink things and that must-be-perfect mentality.
Do read through the CWs. The genre is YA, but we do have language throughout the book along with violence, gore, bloodshed, deaths, and more. Theo's parents are toxic along with some of the other adults he is surrounded by. He of course hasn't fully comprehended this, to be fair this is all he has known. Mental manipulation, psychical abuse (no beating but Theo's father grips his hair painfully), intense moments of stress and strain of having to be a certain way, and mind games. High school bullying is present. Vampire and monster violence, consensual and non-con blood drinking.
"You're not the monster, Kade. Pretty sure I got that one in the bag." - Theo
"You're not that bad, mate. Monsters don't bring their food knitting needles." - Kade
Slow burn! Like VERY slow burn! Enemies to strained allies/food to possibly acquaintances. We get dual POVs in third person and I loved every moment of it! The internal struggles and dialogues. Kade is the target for Theo and his friends bullying unfortunately. Luckily Theo isn't the worst one, but he isn't a saint. I appreciated the fact that as the story continues Theo gets to really understand the gravity of what his friends and him have been doing. Especially as Kade's walls come down for short bursts of moments. The two getting to see the hidden, raw, real person under the exterior they have to maintain for whatever reason.
This book ends on a cliffhanger, and I NEED answers! There was such a beautiful and tender moment toward the end of the story that had my heart exploding. And then words were spoken and yeah. . . Can't say too much because spoilers. But UGH! I cannot wait for the next installment and to see more of my boys' growth and what's going to happen next. Plus, Sparky!
Enjoy the read with a small town that has a dark past and buried secrets. Don't forget to give the author some stars!
shutupandbookup.com
"Thirteen hours before Theo Fairgood died, he woke up early to hang party decorations." - First line of the book! Had me laughing and thinking back to other works by this author!
Theo is THE golden boy of Lock. Perfect grades, athletic, rich and powerful parents, etc. Everyone wants to be around him, seen with him, and just bask in his aura. That is except for Kade who would rather die. He just wants to get through the miserable high school years so his real life and adventure can begin. But surviving high school isn't for the faint of heart. Growling, fighting, and barking at everyone will only go so far.
Everything changes when Kade crashes yet another party and saves Theo, though "golden boy" didn't need saving at all. Seems like the mysteries monster who attacked Theo was a vampire and Theo is no longer human!? Kade has chased many highs in his short life, but nothing has even come close to vampire venom. A begrudging, slightly blackmail-ish, deal is struck between the two that will soon change a lot of things including their views on the world. Mysteries need to be solved, town secrets revealed and does Kade actually have a soft/gentle side?!
"U STAY SOFT, U GET EATEN" - One of Kade's many handmade shirts! (I need it!)
Belle has become one of my favorite authors and a friend! I'm always excited to see what new book she has written. Just the combination of horror, goth, high school opposites, small town vibes, and so much more! I love how she writes her characters and the growth of her writing with each new book! I love vampires and the way Belle writes them in her YA books is fantastic! Also, the first time I read and relooked at Kade all I could think of was Ashton Greymoore from Critical Role. Though Kade is more goth than punk.
"Hey, under this skinny form lies a musclebound beast." - Kade
Coming from a sports oriented small town I could relate to Kade on a lot of levels. Art and creativity are swallowed whole by the need to be number one in all of the sports categories. Money being freely given and poured into sports while everywhere else suffered. Not to mention being any part of the LGBTQ+ flag was hush-hush. Kade has figured out tactics on how to survive the day-to-day life of high school but it's wearing on him. Dubbed the town freak doesn't help anything and he has a reputation. There are no secrets in small towns.
Theo's character made me sad because I saw a mirror of things I went through. He has to be perfect and present himself in a way that won't disappoint his parents or bring dishonor to the Fairgood name. He's been going on this path for a while and has found some things uncomfortable but not enough to detour him from his pre-assigned destination. Not until he dies and gets tied up with Kade. Now his world is expanding and he's beginning to rethink things and that must-be-perfect mentality.
Do read through the CWs. The genre is YA, but we do have language throughout the book along with violence, gore, bloodshed, deaths, and more. Theo's parents are toxic along with some of the other adults he is surrounded by. He of course hasn't fully comprehended this, to be fair this is all he has known. Mental manipulation, psychical abuse (no beating but Theo's father grips his hair painfully), intense moments of stress and strain of having to be a certain way, and mind games. High school bullying is present. Vampire and monster violence, consensual and non-con blood drinking.
"You're not the monster, Kade. Pretty sure I got that one in the bag." - Theo
"You're not that bad, mate. Monsters don't bring their food knitting needles." - Kade
Slow burn! Like VERY slow burn! Enemies to strained allies/food to possibly acquaintances. We get dual POVs in third person and I loved every moment of it! The internal struggles and dialogues. Kade is the target for Theo and his friends bullying unfortunately. Luckily Theo isn't the worst one, but he isn't a saint. I appreciated the fact that as the story continues Theo gets to really understand the gravity of what his friends and him have been doing. Especially as Kade's walls come down for short bursts of moments. The two getting to see the hidden, raw, real person under the exterior they have to maintain for whatever reason.
This book ends on a cliffhanger, and I NEED answers! There was such a beautiful and tender moment toward the end of the story that had my heart exploding. And then words were spoken and yeah. . . Can't say too much because spoilers. But UGH! I cannot wait for the next installment and to see more of my boys' growth and what's going to happen next. Plus, Sparky!
Enjoy the read with a small town that has a dark past and buried secrets. Don't forget to give the author some stars!
shutupandbookup.com
May 28, 2025
** Combined Review of All 3 Books **
With a page count of 950, this story could've been considerably shorter and still covered all of the material in a much more concise manner.
The slower pacing in the first two books felt like a lot of pages for not a ton of plot points, while also leaving me pretty annoyed at Theo, the popular-boy-turned-vampire, due to how he treated Kade, making him hide when anyone was near.
Then in the third book, Kade's tendency toward over-the-top, self-destructive behavior flipped the script and turned my annoyance toward him.
The story overall was fine, but out of the 950 pages, only about 50 of those pages had me genuinely excited and dying to know what was going to happen next.
3 stars.
-----------------------------------------------
This book is *FREE* with Kindle Unlimited membership.
See All My Latest Reads (Review Quick-Links)
-----------------------------------------------
August 17, 2025
it wasn't too long ago (read: 1 day) i was swearing off YA, but I.S. Belle's Blood Tethered made me rethink my decision. however, i sure did not rethink the decision to ruin my sleep schedule (again) by staying up till 3 AM to read a jock vampire and depressed goth unravel the mysteries of a little town filled with many a suspicious adult. what Belle does so well, and this might not matter to some, is write teenagers. simple enough, but most YA (NA and adult novels are guilty of this, too, lbr) rely way too much on injecting every trendy lingo and pop reference under the sun to make a story "relatable" and "fun", but girl it's just unbearable. stop it. Belle's writing is simple and clear-cut with no fancy embellishments to bog down the story of two teenagers having a terrible time, and that's excluding the epic highs and lows of high school football. this had the perfect blend of teenage shenanigans, tragic bisexuals, small town paranormal mystery, erotic blood drinking, and maybe falling in love.
P.S. U STAY SOFT / U GET EATEN
P.S. U STAY SOFT / U GET EATEN
April 14, 2025
I keep coming back to I.S. Belle's books because her stories and prose always get me. Blood Tethered was amazing and I can't wait for book 2.
Dead YA parents are out---Messed up YA parents are in! No one writes better worst parents than Belle.
Theo is such a layered character, I love him so much. He's kind of a jerk, but the more you get to know him, the more you understand why. The award for "worst parenting ever" goes to his shitty dad and mom. I love how Theo is working on becoming a better person despite his up bringing.
KADE IS SUCH A SWEETPIE!! I LOVE HIM, NO NOTES!
And as always, the assemble is also great, each side character is unique and I need to know what is going on with Liss.
The other thing I love about this book is how Belle subverts the vampire trope, having Theo be the one with fangs, while Zade is the cutie patootie human goth. Absolutely brilliant.
Great plot, great arcs, great prose.
Another 5 stars review and I've already pre ordered book 2.
Dead YA parents are out---Messed up YA parents are in! No one writes better worst parents than Belle.
Theo is such a layered character, I love him so much. He's kind of a jerk, but the more you get to know him, the more you understand why. The award for "worst parenting ever" goes to his shitty dad and mom. I love how Theo is working on becoming a better person despite his up bringing.
KADE IS SUCH A SWEETPIE!! I LOVE HIM, NO NOTES!
And as always, the assemble is also great, each side character is unique and I need to know what is going on with Liss.
The other thing I love about this book is how Belle subverts the vampire trope, having Theo be the one with fangs, while Zade is the cutie patootie human goth. Absolutely brilliant.
Great plot, great arcs, great prose.
Another 5 stars review and I've already pre ordered book 2.
January 19, 2025
Blood Tethered by I.S. Belle
A golden boy and a boy who causes trouble? What could go wrong! Kade and Theo are opposites in many ways! They are adorable and I love seeing how they grew apart and together throughout this story!
I absolutely devoured this book and was so glad that the second book showed up in my inbox as I was writing this review so I could read it right after! The plot really will drag you in and it’s just adorable!
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 5, 2025
Loved this book!!
Kade is absolutely adorable, and my favorite character by far. However, I will say that the dramatic side of me also loves Aaron, and I hope he gets a bigger part in the next book :)
While some of the twists were a little predictable, it was written in a very satisfying way where that didn't matter. Can't wait to read book 2!!
Kade is absolutely adorable, and my favorite character by far. However, I will say that the dramatic side of me also loves Aaron, and I hope he gets a bigger part in the next book :)
While some of the twists were a little predictable, it was written in a very satisfying way where that didn't matter. Can't wait to read book 2!!
January 23, 2025
Theo and Kade are on opisate ends of the social higherarchy when their lives are tied together after Theo becomes a vampire. The town is full of dangers and secrets however will they survive? By falling for each other duh.
I love Theo amd Kade so much. Belle's is once again incredible and captivating and I can't wait to devour the rest of this series.
I love Theo amd Kade so much. Belle's is once again incredible and captivating and I can't wait to devour the rest of this series.
May 6, 2025
I had so much fun reading this. I love Theo and Kade so much, their dynamic was so interesting and I loved seeing it develop. I’m glad I had the forethought of ordering book 2 halfway through this one because I knew I had to start it immediately after I finished it.
Also really really want some of Kades T-Shirts please, pleaseeee🙏😂
Also also these covers are absolutely gorgeous.
Also really really want some of Kades T-Shirts please, pleaseeee🙏😂
Also also these covers are absolutely gorgeous.
January 14, 2025
Absolutely loved this!! The story was so engaging. I loved the characters and the constant will they, won't they. I definitely identified with Kade, being a goth kidding highschool, also the love of crafting. Cannot wait for the next book!
February 9, 2025
4.5/5
I have to be honest, I actually loved this. I read most of it in one sitting and enjoyed every moment of it.
I think it’s important to go into it knowing that it’s just as much about the characters as it is the plot, which is the perfect kind of fantasy for me. I also found the humor to be right up my alley which is generally uncommon and such a treat.
The plot seemed paced pretty well for the most part. It’s a little bit repetitive/draggy but not significantly enough to frustrate me. Keep in mind, once again, that I read for characters over plot.
The character dynamics and character development was phenomenal. I love Theo and Kade’s chemistry and I’m super excited to see it and them grow and change further. They both have a lot of depth to them, and they both simultaneously embody their stereotypes and have so much beyond them.
The main side characters, too, have depth and I’m intrigued to see what’s up with them. I’d also love to get more of Theo's parents, especially if Kade is watching. That would make for an interesting dynamic.
I’m very excited for the next one and I’ll be reading it soon. Thank you to the author for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
I have to be honest, I actually loved this. I read most of it in one sitting and enjoyed every moment of it.
I think it’s important to go into it knowing that it’s just as much about the characters as it is the plot, which is the perfect kind of fantasy for me. I also found the humor to be right up my alley which is generally uncommon and such a treat.
The plot seemed paced pretty well for the most part. It’s a little bit repetitive/draggy but not significantly enough to frustrate me. Keep in mind, once again, that I read for characters over plot.
The character dynamics and character development was phenomenal. I love Theo and Kade’s chemistry and I’m super excited to see it and them grow and change further. They both have a lot of depth to them, and they both simultaneously embody their stereotypes and have so much beyond them.
The main side characters, too, have depth and I’m intrigued to see what’s up with them. I’d also love to get more of Theo's parents, especially if Kade is watching. That would make for an interesting dynamic.
I’m very excited for the next one and I’ll be reading it soon. Thank you to the author for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
April 4, 2025
Great Read
The blurb and cover made this book seem like it would be an okay story. That is Not the case, this is a WONDERFUL book. It kept my attention from beginning to end and I am so looking forward to the next book in the series!
The blurb and cover made this book seem like it would be an okay story. That is Not the case, this is a WONDERFUL book. It kept my attention from beginning to end and I am so looking forward to the next book in the series!
Read
July 1, 2025I started it, I really liked the beginning but then it became childish to me. I don’t think YA stuff is for me anymore and that’s okay. I really would have liked this if it were people that weren’t teenagers though but I would watch this if this was a show 100%
August 23, 2025
It took me a while to get into this book because I really do'nt like the bully/bullied trope. But then the lore deepened and, honestly, it's one of the best lores I've ever seen in a vampire book. Can't wait to solve more of Lock's mysteries!
December 30, 2024
Give me the next one nowwwwww
January 23, 2025
Oh I love them and hate them!
I have to remind myself teenagers are stupid.
But I can't wait to see how it ends!
I have to remind myself teenagers are stupid.
But I can't wait to see how it ends!
February 24, 2025
Definitely a page turner. Kade and Theo can be infuriating sometimes, but they also have sweet moments, that make you want to know what's coming next.
April 4, 2025
Surprisingly I liked this a lot, looking forward to the second book in the series
April 23, 2025
Killer start to a series. Hooked.
June 14, 2025
I actually loved this
June 30, 2025
4.5 rounded up
oh my god doomed yearner yaoi. need i say more.
THEMMMM <33
getting the second and third book IMMEDIATELY.
oh my god doomed yearner yaoi. need i say more.
THEMMMM <33
getting the second and third book IMMEDIATELY.
September 16, 2025
my life has been changed and ruined, thank you
April 9, 2025
Oh my goodness gracious, boy, am I a sucker for I. S. Belle's writing!
I fell in love with Zombabe, Babylove and Honeybloods, and jumped at this series when it dropped on Kickstarter because my life was severely lacking of more queer vampyres!
I was so excited when it arrived, I finished it before the release date and felt bad for telling people about it before they could get their hands on it.
I pushed it to the front of my reading pile when Belle introduced it on their socials as 'Steddie' inspired, and I was not disappointed!
Unfortunately, I have pushed the other two books back a bit because 'Sunrise on the Reaping' was released and I wanted to stay on trend and talk to my customers about it, but do not fret, my little gay vampyres, I am coming back for you shortly!!
I fell in love with Zombabe, Babylove and Honeybloods, and jumped at this series when it dropped on Kickstarter because my life was severely lacking of more queer vampyres!
I was so excited when it arrived, I finished it before the release date and felt bad for telling people about it before they could get their hands on it.
I pushed it to the front of my reading pile when Belle introduced it on their socials as 'Steddie' inspired, and I was not disappointed!
Unfortunately, I have pushed the other two books back a bit because 'Sunrise on the Reaping' was released and I wanted to stay on trend and talk to my customers about it, but do not fret, my little gay vampyres, I am coming back for you shortly!!
April 3, 2025
Thank you, I.S. Belle for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review! 🥰🫶
.
Let me start this by saying I.S. Belle should never stop writing queer vampires! 👏 I loved her novella series Honeybites, and I love this trilogy even more! (Probably just because these were longer, so more content to love, 🥰 as I really enjoyed both!) Once I picked up Blood Tethered, I couldn’t stop reading and ended up reading it in one sitting. Then the next day I read the sequel Venom Bound in one sitting. 😅 I somehow found restraint and paced myself with the final book in the trilogy, Soul Burn. 😂 But I think that just goes to tell you how much I enjoyed this series!
.
Anyway, let’s jump into book 1! Theo Fairgood is the town’s “golden boy”, but underneath, he is a kid trying to make his parents happy and secretly loves plants. When Theo gets turned into a vampire, his world crashes into Kade Renfield, the town “freak,” aka Monster. Theo and his friend group are notorious for bullying Kade to get a rise out of him and see the so-called “Monster”. Kade plays into the persona and gives the people what they want - a show. However, underneath that, Kade loves to knit and create clothes and is just a big old softie who is struggling in the small town of Lock. I love the dynamic between these two. It obviously starts rocky, but as they get closer, they learn the softer sides of each other. I also love how they apologize to each other! I feel like a lot of romances that I’ve read with a bully just brush over it, but they actually talk about it! The two have to navigate Theo’s new vampirism as well as figure out why Theo’s touch burns Kade and discover the town's secrets in the process.
.
This is such a fantastic start to a trilogy and instantly hooks you and draws you in! I love how vampires work in this world and how the characters are written. The blood-drinking scenes are incredibly written and are some of the best I’ve read! I also love the humor and heart that is perfectly balanced in this series.
.
Let me start this by saying I.S. Belle should never stop writing queer vampires! 👏 I loved her novella series Honeybites, and I love this trilogy even more! (Probably just because these were longer, so more content to love, 🥰 as I really enjoyed both!) Once I picked up Blood Tethered, I couldn’t stop reading and ended up reading it in one sitting. Then the next day I read the sequel Venom Bound in one sitting. 😅 I somehow found restraint and paced myself with the final book in the trilogy, Soul Burn. 😂 But I think that just goes to tell you how much I enjoyed this series!
.
Anyway, let’s jump into book 1! Theo Fairgood is the town’s “golden boy”, but underneath, he is a kid trying to make his parents happy and secretly loves plants. When Theo gets turned into a vampire, his world crashes into Kade Renfield, the town “freak,” aka Monster. Theo and his friend group are notorious for bullying Kade to get a rise out of him and see the so-called “Monster”. Kade plays into the persona and gives the people what they want - a show. However, underneath that, Kade loves to knit and create clothes and is just a big old softie who is struggling in the small town of Lock. I love the dynamic between these two. It obviously starts rocky, but as they get closer, they learn the softer sides of each other. I also love how they apologize to each other! I feel like a lot of romances that I’ve read with a bully just brush over it, but they actually talk about it! The two have to navigate Theo’s new vampirism as well as figure out why Theo’s touch burns Kade and discover the town's secrets in the process.
.
This is such a fantastic start to a trilogy and instantly hooks you and draws you in! I love how vampires work in this world and how the characters are written. The blood-drinking scenes are incredibly written and are some of the best I’ve read! I also love the humor and heart that is perfectly balanced in this series.
March 30, 2025
"Blood tethered" is the first book in this YA LGBTQ paranormal series.
It's a very atmospheric book and I loved the small town setting. The town's history was very interesting.
We follow Theo, the golden boy of the school and Kade, the outsider who everybody calls Monster. A series of events forces them to work together in order to uncover the mystery about vampires and hunters. At first they are reluctant but soon they start getting closer, become friends and eventually develop feelings for each other. The relationship between Kade and Theo was one of my favorite things about the book. It was very well done and I cared for both Kade and Theo so much. I want them to be happy together and I can't wait to see what will happen next.
The vampire lore was intriguing, I have so many questions and I'm looking forward to discover more. I loved the twist and I'm very curious about Felicity, Theo's best friend.
Fantastic start to the series! I'm hooked.
It's a very atmospheric book and I loved the small town setting. The town's history was very interesting.
We follow Theo, the golden boy of the school and Kade, the outsider who everybody calls Monster. A series of events forces them to work together in order to uncover the mystery about vampires and hunters. At first they are reluctant but soon they start getting closer, become friends and eventually develop feelings for each other. The relationship between Kade and Theo was one of my favorite things about the book. It was very well done and I cared for both Kade and Theo so much. I want them to be happy together and I can't wait to see what will happen next.
The vampire lore was intriguing, I have so many questions and I'm looking forward to discover more. I loved the twist and I'm very curious about Felicity, Theo's best friend.
Fantastic start to the series! I'm hooked.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews