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The Deadly Divine #1
Blood So Deadly Divine
A Hallowed…
Born with a soul that unites realms, Elara, the Hallowed, has lived a life that has never been her own. Trapped within a web of divine rituals and spiritual duties, she's more a vessel than a person. With a power that has the dual edge to purify or defile, the weight of the realm's hopes rests on her shoulders. But when her sheltered existence among the Druid sect is shattered by a friend's brutal murder, she's compelled to peel back the layers of deceit that have long ensnared her.
A Hunter…
Ivan Dantan, known in hushed tones as "The Hunter", is the cold embodiment of lethal precision and power. With a mask that strikes terror and a legacy stained in blood, he is duty-bound to the High Council. But when Elara, a beacon of light and defiance, enters his life, the lines between duty and desire blur. He challenges her, stirs her spirit, and draws her to the precipice of the forbidden.
A Realm…
Latheria, poised on the knife's edge of dark power and ancient pacts, stands threatened by forces that wish to shatter its delicate balance. As the shadows of treachery loom large, the distinctions between ally and enemy, right and forbidden, begin to fade. Elara and Ivan find themselves at the heart of a realm teetering on the edge of upheaval, where the ties that bind them could be the very threads that unravel the fabric of their world.
Born with a soul that unites realms, Elara, the Hallowed, has lived a life that has never been her own. Trapped within a web of divine rituals and spiritual duties, she's more a vessel than a person. With a power that has the dual edge to purify or defile, the weight of the realm's hopes rests on her shoulders. But when her sheltered existence among the Druid sect is shattered by a friend's brutal murder, she's compelled to peel back the layers of deceit that have long ensnared her.
A Hunter…
Ivan Dantan, known in hushed tones as "The Hunter", is the cold embodiment of lethal precision and power. With a mask that strikes terror and a legacy stained in blood, he is duty-bound to the High Council. But when Elara, a beacon of light and defiance, enters his life, the lines between duty and desire blur. He challenges her, stirs her spirit, and draws her to the precipice of the forbidden.
A Realm…
Latheria, poised on the knife's edge of dark power and ancient pacts, stands threatened by forces that wish to shatter its delicate balance. As the shadows of treachery loom large, the distinctions between ally and enemy, right and forbidden, begin to fade. Elara and Ivan find themselves at the heart of a realm teetering on the edge of upheaval, where the ties that bind them could be the very threads that unravel the fabric of their world.
596 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
April 29, 2025
OMG MY LIFE HAS BEEN ALTERED BY THE ENDING OF THIS BOOK. 😭 Where is book 2?!
I am not going to lie and say this book captured me from page one, this was a very slow start. Like the first almost 50-ish% was hard. But omg the last half made it so worth it. The romance payoff was excellent!
The romance was beautiful, and a slow burning tension, with a broody warrior MMC who is desperately obsessed with her, and an FMC who is naive and controlled by someone powerful.
The way this storyline weaved was SO good, moving, and heart wrenching.
4.5 stars ⭐️
I am not going to lie and say this book captured me from page one, this was a very slow start. Like the first almost 50-ish% was hard. But omg the last half made it so worth it. The romance payoff was excellent!
The romance was beautiful, and a slow burning tension, with a broody warrior MMC who is desperately obsessed with her, and an FMC who is naive and controlled by someone powerful.
The way this storyline weaved was SO good, moving, and heart wrenching.
4.5 stars ⭐️
Want to Read
June 28, 2025Gothic romantasy? fav. sign me up
March 23, 2025
4.5 If a unique dark fantasy romance with stunning descriptive writing, a tragic FMC coming into her own, a masked morally grey MMC, a SLOW SLOW BURN with exceptional tension, elemental magic, political and court politics, plot twists and more sounds intriguing to you, PICK THIS UP!!!
Overview:
Before I get into our characters, I want to set the scene for the world that we are about to journey to. This realm, Latheria, is a dark realm poised on the edge of dark power and ancient pacts, and it is threatened by forces that want to shatter this balance.
Latheria is extremely religious and basically the entire society blindly follows the High Council, specifically their dark and cruel leader, Lord Osin. There are also a lot of Celtic aspects infused into this story, including pieces of the Irish language with translations in the back that the author worked with a Gaeilgeoir on, which I think adds so much and is incredible.
We follow our FMC, Elara, known in this realm as the Hallowed. The Hallowed is essentially more of a vessel than a person and her life has been a never ending series of divine rituals and spiritual duties. She has no freedom, no real life, and at the beginning of this story she seems Everything changes when one of her friends is murdered, and her grief spurs her to look into the layers of lies and deceit that surround her life and her kingdom.
Enter our MMC, Ivan, known as the Hunter. Ivan is the physical embodiment of lethal precision, he is cold, calculating and feared throughout the realm. Ivan is duty bound to the High Council and more specifically, Lord Osin. After the Hallowed begins to uncover some of the deceit and treachery of her world, the Hunter and the Hallowed's lives become a bit intertwined and the line between duty and desire absolutely begin to blur. It becomes clear that nothing in this world is as it seems and that their realm is on the edge of upheaval, and they realize the ties that bind them, may just be what unravels their world.
I will also say, the twists at the end of this book had me screaming, like I could not believe it and it is hands down the most creative and heart wrenching take on magical bonds I have ever read in my entire life.
Standout Themes:
First off, the magic system and world building found in this book is exceptional. There is elemental magic in this world as I said, and blood is used as a catalyst for transcendence, specifically the Hallowed's blood. It is used as a key to unlock power, bend space and to unravel the limits of the physical world. As the book progresses, the magic system is very scientific and well researched, which I found extremely fascinating. There is also a very interesting history of the goddesses that we learn about.
The societal commentary and overarching themes added so many complex layers to this story that I adored. There is a lot of discussion surrounding religious extremism and people's blind faith in religion as well as the psychology of indoctrination and liberation. We see this psychology play out while Elara is uncovering the layers of deceit found in her realm.
This book also touches a lot on how groups in power thrive off of the oppression of others and the never ending fight against it. Reading Elara's journey of resistance was stunning and inspirational, which leads me to my next point, Elara's journey and character development was stunning. Elara's journey was heartbreaking, emotional, moving and inspiring and was done so well throughout this book. Elara begins this book as a shell of a person, who has essentially resigned herself to nothing and we watch her come into her own, fight against her oppressors and become liberated from the chains that have been holding her down her entire life.
Speaking of character development, my god there is more to Ivan than meets the eye trust me. His journey of defiance and selflessness was one of the most tragic I have ever read.
Of course I will be including their relationship together as well. If you know me, you know I love a slow burn and my god did this deliver. The tension in this book was insane and the chemistry was palpable throughout the entire story. This is going to be one of my favorite romances ever, even though it ends in the most insane, heartbreaking and literally life altering manner in this book.
I truly do not know where we go from here because god damn...but I will say I have never been more excited for a sequel.
I am not kidding when I say I am barely scratching the surface of this story. It is so layered, detailed and immersive and truly made me feel more than a lot of books have.
Overview:
Before I get into our characters, I want to set the scene for the world that we are about to journey to. This realm, Latheria, is a dark realm poised on the edge of dark power and ancient pacts, and it is threatened by forces that want to shatter this balance.
Latheria is extremely religious and basically the entire society blindly follows the High Council, specifically their dark and cruel leader, Lord Osin. There are also a lot of Celtic aspects infused into this story, including pieces of the Irish language with translations in the back that the author worked with a Gaeilgeoir on, which I think adds so much and is incredible.
We follow our FMC, Elara, known in this realm as the Hallowed. The Hallowed is essentially more of a vessel than a person and her life has been a never ending series of divine rituals and spiritual duties. She has no freedom, no real life, and at the beginning of this story she seems Everything changes when one of her friends is murdered, and her grief spurs her to look into the layers of lies and deceit that surround her life and her kingdom.
Enter our MMC, Ivan, known as the Hunter. Ivan is the physical embodiment of lethal precision, he is cold, calculating and feared throughout the realm. Ivan is duty bound to the High Council and more specifically, Lord Osin. After the Hallowed begins to uncover some of the deceit and treachery of her world, the Hunter and the Hallowed's lives become a bit intertwined and the line between duty and desire absolutely begin to blur. It becomes clear that nothing in this world is as it seems and that their realm is on the edge of upheaval, and they realize the ties that bind them, may just be what unravels their world.
I will also say, the twists at the end of this book had me screaming, like I could not believe it and it is hands down the most creative and heart wrenching take on magical bonds I have ever read in my entire life.
Standout Themes:
First off, the magic system and world building found in this book is exceptional. There is elemental magic in this world as I said, and blood is used as a catalyst for transcendence, specifically the Hallowed's blood. It is used as a key to unlock power, bend space and to unravel the limits of the physical world. As the book progresses, the magic system is very scientific and well researched, which I found extremely fascinating. There is also a very interesting history of the goddesses that we learn about.
The societal commentary and overarching themes added so many complex layers to this story that I adored. There is a lot of discussion surrounding religious extremism and people's blind faith in religion as well as the psychology of indoctrination and liberation. We see this psychology play out while Elara is uncovering the layers of deceit found in her realm.
This book also touches a lot on how groups in power thrive off of the oppression of others and the never ending fight against it. Reading Elara's journey of resistance was stunning and inspirational, which leads me to my next point, Elara's journey and character development was stunning. Elara's journey was heartbreaking, emotional, moving and inspiring and was done so well throughout this book. Elara begins this book as a shell of a person, who has essentially resigned herself to nothing and we watch her come into her own, fight against her oppressors and become liberated from the chains that have been holding her down her entire life.
Speaking of character development, my god there is more to Ivan than meets the eye trust me. His journey of defiance and selflessness was one of the most tragic I have ever read.
Of course I will be including their relationship together as well. If you know me, you know I love a slow burn and my god did this deliver. The tension in this book was insane and the chemistry was palpable throughout the entire story. This is going to be one of my favorite romances ever, even though it ends in the most insane, heartbreaking and literally life altering manner in this book.
I truly do not know where we go from here because god damn...but I will say I have never been more excited for a sequel.
I am not kidding when I say I am barely scratching the surface of this story. It is so layered, detailed and immersive and truly made me feel more than a lot of books have.
July 25, 2025
⭐️ 4.5 - I loved this! The unknowns, the mysteries, the questions... it hooked me completely. And the tension… THIS is how it’s done. The characters are phenomenal, and I’m such a sucker for an enigmatic love interest. This one was executed so well. I kept wavering between the two, but in the end… I’m firmly Team Ivan. <3
This book is long, but honestly? I still wanted more. That’s how deeply it pulled me in.
Tropes & Vibes:
🔥 Slow Burn
👑 Hallowed FMC
🚫 Forbidden Romance
🕯️ Gothic Atmosphere
🎭 Masked MMC
✝️ Oppressive Religious Society
🖤 Dark Magic
🔗 Magical Bonds
🚀 Sci-Fi Leaning
🧠 Memory Loss
🕵️ Mystery
💃“Dance With Me” moment
✍️ Gorgeous Prose
⚔️ “Touch Her and Die”
Spice: 🌶️
This book is long, but honestly? I still wanted more. That’s how deeply it pulled me in.
Tropes & Vibes:
🔥 Slow Burn
👑 Hallowed FMC
🚫 Forbidden Romance
🕯️ Gothic Atmosphere
🎭 Masked MMC
✝️ Oppressive Religious Society
🖤 Dark Magic
🔗 Magical Bonds
🚀 Sci-Fi Leaning
🧠 Memory Loss
🕵️ Mystery
💃“Dance With Me” moment
✍️ Gorgeous Prose
⚔️ “Touch Her and Die”
Spice: 🌶️
June 25, 2026
this book was heavy on the world building for the first 20% and the magic system is quite complex, so it took me a while to get into this story but the patience paid off because after a while i was hooked!!
elara my poor girl never catches a break but she is so resilient. i’m so excited to see how her character develops further in book 2.
the slow burn was PAINFULLY SLOW. the build up and tension was amazing and it paid off!!
the writing was STUNNING and im so amazed at how everything was connected. the plot twists had me gagged and that ending was absolutely criminal. thank god i can go into the next book straight after this.
elara my poor girl never catches a break but she is so resilient. i’m so excited to see how her character develops further in book 2.
the slow burn was PAINFULLY SLOW. the build up and tension was amazing and it paid off!!
the writing was STUNNING and im so amazed at how everything was connected. the plot twists had me gagged and that ending was absolutely criminal. thank god i can go into the next book straight after this.
December 26, 2024
MY FIRST EVER 6 STAR READ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
J.M. Grosvalet is a force to be reckoned with. (😏)
Blood So Deadly Divine is a captivating and immersive fantasy romance with
✨ gorgeous, descriptive writing
✨ a lush, dark, atmospheric world that sucks you right in
✨ elemental and dark magic
✨ an FMC that is fierce and resilient, yet also vulnerable and beautifully human
✨ a masked, broody MMC that absolutely destroyed me
✨ tension, yearning, a SLOWWWW BURNNN that will have you screaming
✨ another language with translations in the back
✨ characters and relationships that will have your whole heart
✨ I could quite literally go on forever 😭
It is a MASTERPIECE.
Torturous slow burns and achingly beautiful romance aside, the resounding theme of this book for me was 𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. of herself and others. It was so incredibly powerful and impactful. 🫶🏼
This is the kind of book that makes you fall in love with reading all over again. Being so immersed, going along for the ride, and feeling all the emotions so so deeply. It is so richly layered, detailed, and complex. Everything is so well thought out and intentional, I can’t even wrap my head around the level of skill and talent it takes to write something like this.
It was truly a journey that I never wanted to end- filled with mystery and twists and turns, you really have no idea where it will go next.
I can’t put into words how much this book means to me. It feels like a privilege that I stumbled upon it and got to experience reading something like this.
This book took a part of me with it and also became a part of me— and more than anything, left me so hungry for more.
I am seriously considering going back and reading it all over again. and I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT BOOK 😭😮💨
•••
I don’t think my words can even do it justice. There is so much more I want to say 😭 I finished this book on December 20th and I am still reeling and unable to form coherent sentences. I think I will continually come back to add to this as I think about it more over time because I know I will never stop thinking about it 🖤
J.M. Grosvalet is a force to be reckoned with. (😏)
Blood So Deadly Divine is a captivating and immersive fantasy romance with
✨ gorgeous, descriptive writing
✨ a lush, dark, atmospheric world that sucks you right in
✨ elemental and dark magic
✨ an FMC that is fierce and resilient, yet also vulnerable and beautifully human
✨ a masked, broody MMC that absolutely destroyed me
✨ tension, yearning, a SLOWWWW BURNNN that will have you screaming
✨ another language with translations in the back
✨ characters and relationships that will have your whole heart
✨ I could quite literally go on forever 😭
It is a MASTERPIECE.
Torturous slow burns and achingly beautiful romance aside, the resounding theme of this book for me was 𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. of herself and others. It was so incredibly powerful and impactful. 🫶🏼
This is the kind of book that makes you fall in love with reading all over again. Being so immersed, going along for the ride, and feeling all the emotions so so deeply. It is so richly layered, detailed, and complex. Everything is so well thought out and intentional, I can’t even wrap my head around the level of skill and talent it takes to write something like this.
It was truly a journey that I never wanted to end- filled with mystery and twists and turns, you really have no idea where it will go next.
I can’t put into words how much this book means to me. It feels like a privilege that I stumbled upon it and got to experience reading something like this.
This book took a part of me with it and also became a part of me— and more than anything, left me so hungry for more.
I am seriously considering going back and reading it all over again. and I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT BOOK 😭😮💨
•••
I don’t think my words can even do it justice. There is so much more I want to say 😭 I finished this book on December 20th and I am still reeling and unable to form coherent sentences. I think I will continually come back to add to this as I think about it more over time because I know I will never stop thinking about it 🖤
June 26, 2026
"The world may have seen her as broken, but it was time they realized—broken things can be sharp, deadly."
5 Stars — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
How am I supposed to move on after Blood So Deadly Divine? Because I genuinely don't think I can.
This book completely sucked me in. The gothic atmosphere is so dark and addictive, the worldbuilding is rich without being overwhelming, and every chapter left me needing "just one more."
Elara was such an easy character to root for. Watching her slowly unravel everything she thought she knew while trying to find herself made me so emotional. She grows so much throughout the story, and it never felt rushed.
And then there's Ivan...
I get the hype now.
The man barely has to do anything and somehow steals every single scene. The tension between him and Elara is unreal. Every interaction had me smiling, screaming, or wanting to throw my book across the room. This is slow burn done right.
The plot twists genuinely caught me off guard, and by the end I was questioning everything I thought I knew. That ending absolutely destroyed me, and now I'm left counting down the days until the next book.
If you love gothic romantasy, morally grey love interests, forbidden romance, religious intrigue, secrets that keep unfolding, and slow-burn romance with incredible payoff, you need to read this.
This wasn't just a five star read, it was one of those books that stays in your head long after you've finished the last page.
5 Stars — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
How am I supposed to move on after Blood So Deadly Divine? Because I genuinely don't think I can.
This book completely sucked me in. The gothic atmosphere is so dark and addictive, the worldbuilding is rich without being overwhelming, and every chapter left me needing "just one more."
Elara was such an easy character to root for. Watching her slowly unravel everything she thought she knew while trying to find herself made me so emotional. She grows so much throughout the story, and it never felt rushed.
And then there's Ivan...
I get the hype now.
The man barely has to do anything and somehow steals every single scene. The tension between him and Elara is unreal. Every interaction had me smiling, screaming, or wanting to throw my book across the room. This is slow burn done right.
The plot twists genuinely caught me off guard, and by the end I was questioning everything I thought I knew. That ending absolutely destroyed me, and now I'm left counting down the days until the next book.
If you love gothic romantasy, morally grey love interests, forbidden romance, religious intrigue, secrets that keep unfolding, and slow-burn romance with incredible payoff, you need to read this.
This wasn't just a five star read, it was one of those books that stays in your head long after you've finished the last page.
June 16, 2025
DNF at 50%
I tried so hard to like this and the authors writing, the world building and her characters really would have made it easy for me...
but the story was sooo slow.
at 50% I still waited for the introduction to pick up some speed and dive into the story.
after 300 pages there still was no drive to the plot. New characters kept popping up, and I kept waiting for the romance to kick in. The love interest I thought we had did not romance anyone and the author introduced every other male side character as if he was becoming the next great thing.
This could have been excellent, would it not have been 300 pages of waiting for the story to begin.
I tried so hard to like this and the authors writing, the world building and her characters really would have made it easy for me...
but the story was sooo slow.
at 50% I still waited for the introduction to pick up some speed and dive into the story.
after 300 pages there still was no drive to the plot. New characters kept popping up, and I kept waiting for the romance to kick in. The love interest I thought we had did not romance anyone and the author introduced every other male side character as if he was becoming the next great thing.
This could have been excellent, would it not have been 300 pages of waiting for the story to begin.
June 29, 2025
This is what I want and crave from a Romantasy book. AND THAT ENDING, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
You get this beautiful gothic world with an oppressive religious society. Then you add in a naive/controlled FMC, Dark magic, magical bonds, a masked MMC which leads you to epic plot, a forbidden romance with the most excruciating tension and slow burn.
The beginning of the book is filled with a lot of world building which I love and appreciate, so I was intrigued right away. Overtime you slowly learn more of what is actually happening and all the secrets start unfolding. At the beginning the FMC is so timid and it's just ingrained into her that this is the way life is for her, but J.M. did a beautiful job with her character growth and she really ends up coming into her own.
I was completely shocked by the ending and I will absolutely be picking up book 2 the moment I can have it in my hands. Also sorry, I may become insufferable over this book.
You get this beautiful gothic world with an oppressive religious society. Then you add in a naive/controlled FMC, Dark magic, magical bonds, a masked MMC which leads you to epic plot, a forbidden romance with the most excruciating tension and slow burn.
The beginning of the book is filled with a lot of world building which I love and appreciate, so I was intrigued right away. Overtime you slowly learn more of what is actually happening and all the secrets start unfolding. At the beginning the FMC is so timid and it's just ingrained into her that this is the way life is for her, but J.M. did a beautiful job with her character growth and she really ends up coming into her own.
I was completely shocked by the ending and I will absolutely be picking up book 2 the moment I can have it in my hands. Also sorry, I may become insufferable over this book.
January 10, 2026
“take care of her.” i was then stabbed 57 times.
—
this book is definitely for the higher fantasy girlies. the magic system and world building takes a minute to get into but things start to click as you read. the romance was such an insane slow burn i wanted to pull my hair out and was BEGGING for even a hand graze.
the writing was absolutely beautiful and the overall story was empowering for our fmc elara. we also meet quite a few other strong female characters that i can’t wait to see more of in the future!
the ending was absolutely diabolical. what do you mean i’m supposed to pick one?? but also maybe not?? idk i’m feeling so very conflicted and need the second book rn before i crash out.
“𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒅—𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑, 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚.”
—
this book is definitely for the higher fantasy girlies. the magic system and world building takes a minute to get into but things start to click as you read. the romance was such an insane slow burn i wanted to pull my hair out and was BEGGING for even a hand graze.
the writing was absolutely beautiful and the overall story was empowering for our fmc elara. we also meet quite a few other strong female characters that i can’t wait to see more of in the future!
the ending was absolutely diabolical. what do you mean i’m supposed to pick one?? but also maybe not?? idk i’m feeling so very conflicted and need the second book rn before i crash out.
“𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒅—𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑, 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚.”
June 19, 2026
I was looking for a unique romantasy, so I knew I had to dive into an indie book—and this absolutely delivered. I love a romantasy with a plot that could let it stand alone aside from the romance. There was a ton of worldbuilding and lore in this, which I absolutely love. This book has gorgeous descriptive writing with a lush, gothic atmosphere. We have a religious oppressive society, dark magic, court politics, and secrets galore. While the beginning was slower, the author did a wonderful job at setting up the world and magic with the most stunning writing.
Elara, the FMC, is sheltered and naïve. At the start of the book, she lives with the druids for her “protection,” but she knows that something’s not quite right. She’s the goddess’s “chosen one,” and her blood is sacred, being the only source of pure ether in the realm. She’s treated as an object, a tool to be used. A series of events sets her down a different path, and things start to get pieced together not only for her, but the reader as well. The MMC is the brooding warrior type with secrets of his own, and their relationship is a slowwwww burn throughout this (relatively long) book.
The magic system in this is almost science-y, which I found to be super unique. I loved the kind of academic twist it had. The plot in this was so interesting—I personally love a book where absolutely nothing makes sense until the pieces start fitting together. The ending of this tore my heart out and stomped on it, so I am THRILLED that I have an arc for book 2 and will be starting it immediately.
Elara, the FMC, is sheltered and naïve. At the start of the book, she lives with the druids for her “protection,” but she knows that something’s not quite right. She’s the goddess’s “chosen one,” and her blood is sacred, being the only source of pure ether in the realm. She’s treated as an object, a tool to be used. A series of events sets her down a different path, and things start to get pieced together not only for her, but the reader as well. The MMC is the brooding warrior type with secrets of his own, and their relationship is a slowwwww burn throughout this (relatively long) book.
The magic system in this is almost science-y, which I found to be super unique. I loved the kind of academic twist it had. The plot in this was so interesting—I personally love a book where absolutely nothing makes sense until the pieces start fitting together. The ending of this tore my heart out and stomped on it, so I am THRILLED that I have an arc for book 2 and will be starting it immediately.
August 27, 2025
I AM DEEPLY UNWELL AFTER THE ENDING OF THIS BOOK! (complimentary)
I finished this book at night, stared at the ceiling for a bit, messaged a friend who also read it, because WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!And, it was the first thing I thought about when I opened my eyes the next morning.
This beginning of this book gradually builds as we are immersed in the world and we get to know our FMC Elara. She is considered "Hallowed" in a deeply religious society, and she is treated as nothing more than a commodity because of a mysterious power held within her blood. Although she doesn't have autonomy, she is not meek- she has rebellious streak in her. This continues to grow as more is uncovered about who she is, and the secrets in the world around her. Her actions result in her capture by The Hunter- an enigmatic (and masked) character that is duty bound to serve the High Council. While in captivity she develops an alliance with imprisoned and broken warrior, Reynnar. Elara is also forced to spend time under supervision of The Hunter, who is drawn to her defiance, and the lines between duty and desire become blurred...
This book slowly seeps into you, and then finally completely consumes you. I never once could guess where the plot was going- it is like you start zoomed in on one segment, and over time, you zoom out and get the full picture, and it is absolutely mind altering
This story has rich character AND plot development- it requires full attention to absorb and savor every detail. Yes, there is romance, but it is for those that are here for subtle hand flexes, yearning, and unyielding devotion. I actually felt a physical ache in my chest reading this.
-Dark romantic fantasy
-SLOW burn
-plot forward, twists I didn't see coming
-highly religious society
-missing memories
-forced proximity
-masked MMC
-multiple possible love interests
-captor x confidant
-touch her and die
-he would crawl for her
-single POV, third person
-low spice 0.5 🌶️ (but holy wow)
-audiobook in production at the time of this review
I finished this book at night, stared at the ceiling for a bit, messaged a friend who also read it, because WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!And, it was the first thing I thought about when I opened my eyes the next morning.
This beginning of this book gradually builds as we are immersed in the world and we get to know our FMC Elara. She is considered "Hallowed" in a deeply religious society, and she is treated as nothing more than a commodity because of a mysterious power held within her blood. Although she doesn't have autonomy, she is not meek- she has rebellious streak in her. This continues to grow as more is uncovered about who she is, and the secrets in the world around her. Her actions result in her capture by The Hunter- an enigmatic (and masked) character that is duty bound to serve the High Council. While in captivity she develops an alliance with imprisoned and broken warrior, Reynnar. Elara is also forced to spend time under supervision of The Hunter, who is drawn to her defiance, and the lines between duty and desire become blurred...
This book slowly seeps into you, and then finally completely consumes you. I never once could guess where the plot was going- it is like you start zoomed in on one segment, and over time, you zoom out and get the full picture, and it is absolutely mind altering
This story has rich character AND plot development- it requires full attention to absorb and savor every detail. Yes, there is romance, but it is for those that are here for subtle hand flexes, yearning, and unyielding devotion. I actually felt a physical ache in my chest reading this.
-Dark romantic fantasy
-SLOW burn
-plot forward, twists I didn't see coming
-highly religious society
-missing memories
-forced proximity
-masked MMC
-multiple possible love interests
-captor x confidant
-touch her and die
-he would crawl for her
-single POV, third person
-low spice 0.5 🌶️ (but holy wow)
-audiobook in production at the time of this review
June 28, 2026
This book had me LOCKED IN from the start. I love the layers of mystery that unravel throughout this thrilling story as we learn about who Elara is and her role in this controlling religious society. The gothic ambience is palpable and the imagery is beautiful. I love that this book unfolds as you wind through the world building and character development, and the well thought out twists and turns that we’re taken on. Every time I thought I had things figured out I was gut-punched and thrown in a different direction. This book HURTS to read in the best way possible, and you’re gonna need a sweet-palette-cleanser-treat after. The heavy and dark themes, mixed with the immersive world that’s being set makes this a more medium-paced read instead of the fast-paced bingeable romantasy that’s everywhere, and I really appreciate that.
All of the characters go through deep journeys of transformation and real experiences, even ones with smaller roles. I love the depth of character and personality put into each side characters and the richness they add to the world. This gives the reader a solid foundation to go forth as the story opens up and layers in more high fantasy aspects, and for whats to come in the next book.
I love when the FMC doesn’t just find love in the first man we meet. In life most of us kiss many frogs, for lack of a better term, before we meet our prince, and I love that there’s not clear answers in elaras love life until she starts to find herself and come into her own.
The larger plot at play with the societal/politcal issues is so well done and by the end had me getting those TOG feels where things just keep expanding and your mind just keeps getting blown. Then you get an INSANE ending that I in no way could predict, like rip my heart out and stomp on it.
This is true Traumantasy at its best, im obsessed.
All of the characters go through deep journeys of transformation and real experiences, even ones with smaller roles. I love the depth of character and personality put into each side characters and the richness they add to the world. This gives the reader a solid foundation to go forth as the story opens up and layers in more high fantasy aspects, and for whats to come in the next book.
I love when the FMC doesn’t just find love in the first man we meet. In life most of us kiss many frogs, for lack of a better term, before we meet our prince, and I love that there’s not clear answers in elaras love life until she starts to find herself and come into her own.
The larger plot at play with the societal/politcal issues is so well done and by the end had me getting those TOG feels where things just keep expanding and your mind just keeps getting blown. Then you get an INSANE ending that I in no way could predict, like rip my heart out and stomp on it.
This is true Traumantasy at its best, im obsessed.
June 22, 2026
Elara doesn't get a moments break. But she never gives up and I will be rooting for her to get her vengeance in book 2.
June 23, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
January 5, 2025
2/10. I saw an edit for this book on TikTok that made me excited for the release, but sadly the book didn’t hold up. I ended up skimming the majority of it.
For starters, the storytelling is really bogged down with unnecessary words and descriptions. I had no idea what was going on, and didn’t particularly care to learn either.
Second, the plot was kind of all over the place. I cannot overstate, this book needs the excess fat cut off it. I felt like I was trudging through mud just to get to the point.
Third, the tension between the love interests was nonexistent. Big boo on that one.
And of course, the punctuation and grammatical errors that we see in self published books were there. I cannot even begin to describe how irritating it is to be ripped out of a story because you didn’t space a letter after a period.
2 stars because the book has potential, but it’s most definitely a debut book.
For starters, the storytelling is really bogged down with unnecessary words and descriptions. I had no idea what was going on, and didn’t particularly care to learn either.
Second, the plot was kind of all over the place. I cannot overstate, this book needs the excess fat cut off it. I felt like I was trudging through mud just to get to the point.
Third, the tension between the love interests was nonexistent. Big boo on that one.
And of course, the punctuation and grammatical errors that we see in self published books were there. I cannot even begin to describe how irritating it is to be ripped out of a story because you didn’t space a letter after a period.
2 stars because the book has potential, but it’s most definitely a debut book.
August 7, 2025
so that was insane?? are we joking the ending pls what was that??!!!
the whole magic system and plot was so interesting and different then what i’ve read before!! our fmc elara literally goes through hell everyday and i’m just happy to see her develop and become the smart badass woman she is!!
THE SLOW BURN WAS BURNING BUT did i eat it up in the end??? 1000% i was 🔥🔥
the mmc was broody and mysterious and ughhh the tension made this romance everything!! the ending of this book had me felt like i was left on read bc i need answers now. he literally was crawling to her ok that’s it that’s all i have to say
the whole magic system and plot was so interesting and different then what i’ve read before!! our fmc elara literally goes through hell everyday and i’m just happy to see her develop and become the smart badass woman she is!!
THE SLOW BURN WAS BURNING BUT did i eat it up in the end??? 1000% i was 🔥🔥
the mmc was broody and mysterious and ughhh the tension made this romance everything!! the ending of this book had me felt like i was left on read bc i need answers now. he literally was crawling to her ok that’s it that’s all i have to say
September 13, 2025
This is less of a review and more of a love letter to a new all-time favorite.
SO SO SO GOOD. Mind-blowingly good! I had to slow wayyy down to process and annotate the hell out of this book to make sure I can go back to all of my favorite parts over and over again because I know that this book is going to be a long-standing favorite of mine. I can't stop thinking about it. I have never read anything quite like this and oh BOY do I love J.M. Grosvalet for it!!!
For those of you who love romantasy and who love high fantasy but who also love dark gothic reads too... this is written for you. To compare this book to a couple other books that you may have read (even though they really aren't the same because these authors all write very differently, but just based on vibes here) Throne of Glass series for the types of characters and the traumaaaa omg the trauma, Hollow Heathens for the gothic nature of it (and maybe a tiny bit of the writing style, but again still really different).
I can't even tell you how many times I wrote "oh, Elara" in there or "OMG" or "WTF" this book took my breath away and stole my heart!!!! I cried, I laughed, I was so angry! This book gave me so many emotions. We have not only Ivan but also Reynnar (!!!!!!! My personal favorite) as MMCs for you to fall in love with... buckle up.
And the ENDING tore me UP, gurl...JULIE!!!! I have words for you 💔😭 omg I cannot wait for book 2!!!
Tropes and topics you'll find in this book that you might like:
Fantasy
Romance
Gods/goddesses
Magic
Amnesia
Masked MMC
Fae/fantasy people
Multiple worlds
Fantasy Map!!!
Second language
Fated mates
War
Trauma
Feminine rage
Some quotes I really loved:
"If pain becomes the lens through which all beauty is seen, does it not taint everything?"
"She couldn't control the pain inflicted upon her, but she could control her response to it."
"'If only it were that simple. The game doesn't end until you start playing it.' 'What the hell does that even mean?' 'It means that pretending you're not involved won't save you. It means the rules were set long before you had a choice.'"
"She would learn, grow, and then turn the game on its head. She'd make them pay. Every single one of them."
"It had always felt like access to knowledge came with conditions."
"This was how kingdoms rose and fell--not in grand battles, but in quiet rooms like this, where decisions were made over feasts and wine, where the game was played with lives, and no one at the table ever got their hands dirty."
"No, let him choke on his wicked feast, let him find her spirit indigestible, a morsel too stubborn to swallow down. Let her mettle be the bone that lodged itself in her throat, her resilience the flavor that soured upon his tongue."
"But that's the thing with power. It has no loyalty. It takes, consumes, and when it's through with you, you're left searching for who you were before it claimed you."
"Soon, his entire world would crumble, and she would be the one to watch it burn."
"She'd help as many as she could. But then... what about her? [...] What did freedom even mean for her? What came after the dust settled?"
"She'd die before she let him take one more piece of her. In that moment she was more than herself; she was the embodiment of every silent fury, of every suppressed scream, of every ounce of strength mustered in the face of insurmountable odds. 'I belong to no one.'"
"The world may have seen her as broken, but it was time they realized--broken things can be sharp, deadly."
SO SO SO GOOD. Mind-blowingly good! I had to slow wayyy down to process and annotate the hell out of this book to make sure I can go back to all of my favorite parts over and over again because I know that this book is going to be a long-standing favorite of mine. I can't stop thinking about it. I have never read anything quite like this and oh BOY do I love J.M. Grosvalet for it!!!
For those of you who love romantasy and who love high fantasy but who also love dark gothic reads too... this is written for you. To compare this book to a couple other books that you may have read (even though they really aren't the same because these authors all write very differently, but just based on vibes here) Throne of Glass series for the types of characters and the traumaaaa omg the trauma, Hollow Heathens for the gothic nature of it (and maybe a tiny bit of the writing style, but again still really different).
I can't even tell you how many times I wrote "oh, Elara" in there or "OMG" or "WTF" this book took my breath away and stole my heart!!!! I cried, I laughed, I was so angry! This book gave me so many emotions. We have not only Ivan but also Reynnar (!!!!!!! My personal favorite) as MMCs for you to fall in love with... buckle up.
And the ENDING tore me UP, gurl...JULIE!!!! I have words for you 💔😭 omg I cannot wait for book 2!!!
Tropes and topics you'll find in this book that you might like:
Fantasy
Romance
Gods/goddesses
Magic
Amnesia
Masked MMC
Fae/fantasy people
Multiple worlds
Fantasy Map!!!
Second language
Fated mates
War
Trauma
Feminine rage
Some quotes I really loved:
"If pain becomes the lens through which all beauty is seen, does it not taint everything?"
"She couldn't control the pain inflicted upon her, but she could control her response to it."
"'If only it were that simple. The game doesn't end until you start playing it.' 'What the hell does that even mean?' 'It means that pretending you're not involved won't save you. It means the rules were set long before you had a choice.'"
"She would learn, grow, and then turn the game on its head. She'd make them pay. Every single one of them."
"It had always felt like access to knowledge came with conditions."
"This was how kingdoms rose and fell--not in grand battles, but in quiet rooms like this, where decisions were made over feasts and wine, where the game was played with lives, and no one at the table ever got their hands dirty."
"No, let him choke on his wicked feast, let him find her spirit indigestible, a morsel too stubborn to swallow down. Let her mettle be the bone that lodged itself in her throat, her resilience the flavor that soured upon his tongue."
"But that's the thing with power. It has no loyalty. It takes, consumes, and when it's through with you, you're left searching for who you were before it claimed you."
"Soon, his entire world would crumble, and she would be the one to watch it burn."
"She'd help as many as she could. But then... what about her? [...] What did freedom even mean for her? What came after the dust settled?"
"She'd die before she let him take one more piece of her. In that moment she was more than herself; she was the embodiment of every silent fury, of every suppressed scream, of every ounce of strength mustered in the face of insurmountable odds. 'I belong to no one.'"
"The world may have seen her as broken, but it was time they realized--broken things can be sharp, deadly."
June 23, 2026
This is definitely a book for readers who love sinking into a richly built fantasy world and don’t mind taking their time getting there. The beginning asks you to trust the process, but once the pieces start falling into place, everything clicks. Honestly, I was hooked once I saw druids. I loved the references to Celtic culture it really made this story unique.
The romance is an exercise in patience in the best way. The slow burn is slow, built on tension, longing, and tiny moments that somehow feel bigger than grand declarations. By the end, I was rooting for every interaction and desperate for more.
What surprised me most was how thoughtfully the story explores religion, power, and indoctrination. The society is built on unquestioning faith, and watching Elara slowly unravel the beliefs that have shaped her entire life is just as compelling as the romance. Her journey from obedience to self-discovery feels earned, and it adds an emotional weight that stayed with me long after I finished.
The magic system is layered and unique, and while it takes some attention at first, it becomes one of the book’s biggest strengths as the story unfolds. The gothic atmosphere and constant sense that something isn’t quite right create a feeling of unease that perfectly matches the story.
And that ending? Absolutely diabolical. I closed the book with more questions than answers and immediately wanted book two.
If you enjoy intricate worldbuilding, morally gray characters, a painfully slow burn, and fantasy that isn’t afraid to tackle themes of faith, control, and liberation, this is one I would definitely recommend.
The romance is an exercise in patience in the best way. The slow burn is slow, built on tension, longing, and tiny moments that somehow feel bigger than grand declarations. By the end, I was rooting for every interaction and desperate for more.
What surprised me most was how thoughtfully the story explores religion, power, and indoctrination. The society is built on unquestioning faith, and watching Elara slowly unravel the beliefs that have shaped her entire life is just as compelling as the romance. Her journey from obedience to self-discovery feels earned, and it adds an emotional weight that stayed with me long after I finished.
The magic system is layered and unique, and while it takes some attention at first, it becomes one of the book’s biggest strengths as the story unfolds. The gothic atmosphere and constant sense that something isn’t quite right create a feeling of unease that perfectly matches the story.
And that ending? Absolutely diabolical. I closed the book with more questions than answers and immediately wanted book two.
If you enjoy intricate worldbuilding, morally gray characters, a painfully slow burn, and fantasy that isn’t afraid to tackle themes of faith, control, and liberation, this is one I would definitely recommend.
November 2, 2025
2 stars
There were honestly parts that I liked but this book was all over the place. I was so confused and lost half the time. Things were never said plainly. She would suddenly “know” something and the readers were supposed to know what she just realized with almost no context. I don’t get confused in fantasy books but I was so confused and can’t count how many times I had to reread sections because it wasn’t adding up. At one point she gets a memory back and she’s makes a motion to someone else and they know what it means. At no point are we told what it means or what memory she just got back but it seemed to change her relationship to that person. Also is this a set up for why choose? There were obviously two big love interests but there were so many characters in this book that had tiny parts I couldn’t keep them straight and several men flirted with her while helping. Okay done ranting.
There were honestly parts that I liked but this book was all over the place. I was so confused and lost half the time. Things were never said plainly. She would suddenly “know” something and the readers were supposed to know what she just realized with almost no context. I don’t get confused in fantasy books but I was so confused and can’t count how many times I had to reread sections because it wasn’t adding up. At one point she gets a memory back and she’s makes a motion to someone else and they know what it means. At no point are we told what it means or what memory she just got back but it seemed to change her relationship to that person. Also is this a set up for why choose? There were obviously two big love interests but there were so many characters in this book that had tiny parts I couldn’t keep them straight and several men flirted with her while helping. Okay done ranting.
May 27, 2025
A very generous 2 stars. This was excruciatingly slow. I just don’t know how to dnf books unfortunately
August 19, 2026
First of all, I really wanted to like this book. There were moments when I thought I understood the hype, but more often than not, I was just bored. I waffled on my rating because Blood So Deadly Divine wasn't bad, but it also wasn't that good.
Let's start with the biggest issue: this is a slow-moving story. Too slow, if you ask me. It took me forever to get through this book, and I kept telling myself it was because I was busy with other things. But really? I just wasn't excited to pick it up.
Secondly, there is a lot going on with the magic system, and honestly, I found it confusing. Around 60% in, there's a ton of research and information as the characters try to figure out how to break a bond, and it was SO BORING. Good god. I started skimming at that point.
My third issue is the slow burn. Truly, this is a slow burn. Too fucking slow. Like, why even bother at this point? If someone doesn't make a fucking move, I am going to scream. I think I actually did at one point.
BUT WAIT! It's not all bad!
Elara is a genuinely interesting character. She's strong, I'll give her that. She was put through the wringer about a hundred different ways, and somehow still came out tough as nails and ready to fight.
Reynnar was probably my favorite, and I wish we got more of him. I also wish the translations for his language were easier to access because constantly flipping to the back of the book to figure out WTF he was saying got annoying.
I also really liked Ivan. He was strong, steady, and his rare moments of cockiness were actually pretty cute. THEN THERE IS TRISTAN who absolutely stole the show for me. If we could get an entire book with him as the MMC, I would be very happy.
Like I said, this book wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly good either. I'll read the second book, but definitely not right now.
Let's start with the biggest issue: this is a slow-moving story. Too slow, if you ask me. It took me forever to get through this book, and I kept telling myself it was because I was busy with other things. But really? I just wasn't excited to pick it up.
Secondly, there is a lot going on with the magic system, and honestly, I found it confusing. Around 60% in, there's a ton of research and information as the characters try to figure out how to break a bond, and it was SO BORING. Good god. I started skimming at that point.
My third issue is the slow burn. Truly, this is a slow burn. Too fucking slow. Like, why even bother at this point? If someone doesn't make a fucking move, I am going to scream. I think I actually did at one point.
BUT WAIT! It's not all bad!
Elara is a genuinely interesting character. She's strong, I'll give her that. She was put through the wringer about a hundred different ways, and somehow still came out tough as nails and ready to fight.
Reynnar was probably my favorite, and I wish we got more of him. I also wish the translations for his language were easier to access because constantly flipping to the back of the book to figure out WTF he was saying got annoying.
I also really liked Ivan. He was strong, steady, and his rare moments of cockiness were actually pretty cute. THEN THERE IS TRISTAN who absolutely stole the show for me. If we could get an entire book with him as the MMC, I would be very happy.
Like I said, this book wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly good either. I'll read the second book, but definitely not right now.
July 29, 2026
4.5⭐️
I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that, and I’m annoyed with myself for holding off on reading this book until now because I loved it! This felt so unique, and the gothic atmosphere was *chefs kiss*.
I especially LOVE a studious FMC, and Elara’s affinity with math and physics was a nice change up.
There’s A LOT for me to unpack with the final 10% of the book. I am so conflicted about how I feel towards the male characters (in a good way!), like who should I be rooting for?! Both?! LOL. What I do know is that Osin is the WORST, and I hate how calculated he is but that also makes him an excellent villain.
Time to go jump in to book 2 🫡
I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that, and I’m annoyed with myself for holding off on reading this book until now because I loved it! This felt so unique, and the gothic atmosphere was *chefs kiss*.
I especially LOVE a studious FMC, and Elara’s affinity with math and physics was a nice change up.
There’s A LOT for me to unpack with the final 10% of the book. I am so conflicted about how I feel towards the male characters (in a good way!), like who should I be rooting for?! Both?! LOL. What I do know is that Osin is the WORST, and I hate how calculated he is but that also makes him an excellent villain.
Time to go jump in to book 2 🫡
July 4, 2026
3⭐️
I’m equal parts “what did I just read?” and “wait… why was that so fun?” 🤣
This was a unique gothic romantasy that had my attention from the start! I really enjoyed the FMC and became especially invested after the halfway point.
Some of the subplot left me a little confused, but I’m not sure if that was due to reading in shorter chunks or if a few pieces just didn’t fully connect. Either way, the plot twists surprised me, and while I still have questions, I’m hopeful book two dives deeper into the lore.
Overall, this is a vibe read. I am giving it 3 stars for the intrigue, original ideas, and an ending that left me excited to continue the series!
I’m equal parts “what did I just read?” and “wait… why was that so fun?” 🤣
This was a unique gothic romantasy that had my attention from the start! I really enjoyed the FMC and became especially invested after the halfway point.
Some of the subplot left me a little confused, but I’m not sure if that was due to reading in shorter chunks or if a few pieces just didn’t fully connect. Either way, the plot twists surprised me, and while I still have questions, I’m hopeful book two dives deeper into the lore.
Overall, this is a vibe read. I am giving it 3 stars for the intrigue, original ideas, and an ending that left me excited to continue the series!
July 3, 2025
Wow, was this a good book! Can’t wait for book 2
May 19, 2025
3.5 but How has everyone not read this? How are there so little reviews. And WHAT WAS THAT ENDING. spoilers.
So let's jump into this by saying if you don't read fantasy don't even try to pick this book up. It is the definition of showing not telling and you are immersed in this world from page one. That got kind of long in the middle as we were in the repetitive phase of training and planning and it lagged which will not be something most romance only readers will like. This world building was amazing and I felt like I knew this world by books end. Now. let's talk about what took me by surprise.....
The entire ending sequence. The bonds!?This entire weird forced connection to death, A CURSE! WHAT. Then I'm sitting here at book end being told that Reynnar is her mate and Ivan is last seen being snuffed out by the king and I just had to sit and stare at my screen for a second. I don't want Ivan to not be end game. This may be the only time in one of these books that I am begging for this to go differently, maybe that they are the same souls I'm different time lines like she had in her void notes? I don't know but I don't want to lose my tortured masked man because she finds herself a Sidhe prince.
Honestly this was just a good read. The main character makes that transition from lost and used tool of the kingdom to savior of a people in one book which may be why I feel like so much happened but that happens in around 700 pages I guess. She shows the dispondence and confusion through her writing which as a reader could get confusing at times. Looking back I can see that when she was with people that shit her connection down more the story became slogged and she became more confused so as a reader in her head we did too. However on first read it just felt as though the character had weird lines and jumped scenes.
The romance:
I think what struck me reading this book is that there where more than one option for a love interest. We get the guard from home, the broody warrior to the king, the trapped Sidhe warrior, we get glimpses into what could be good from each of them. I mean it's not like Tristan wouldn't have been a good option too. We do see more of the evolution and connection with Ivan, which is why when we get the reveal of Reynnar being her mate and why Osin had used them against each other by bonding her to the Hunter (Ivan) I was so confused. I had an inkling because we spend so much time with the made up language and her interactions with Reynnar through the cell walls and her reactions, but as I said before I am not prepared to let Ivan go, he was my pick.
I can't wait for the next book, and I'm hoping we pull a reverse harem situation because if we have to keep Reynnar and lose Ivan I am going to cry. 😭
So let's jump into this by saying if you don't read fantasy don't even try to pick this book up. It is the definition of showing not telling and you are immersed in this world from page one. That got kind of long in the middle as we were in the repetitive phase of training and planning and it lagged which will not be something most romance only readers will like. This world building was amazing and I felt like I knew this world by books end. Now. let's talk about what took me by surprise.....
The entire ending sequence. The bonds!?This entire weird forced connection to death, A CURSE! WHAT. Then I'm sitting here at book end being told that Reynnar is her mate and Ivan is last seen being snuffed out by the king and I just had to sit and stare at my screen for a second. I don't want Ivan to not be end game. This may be the only time in one of these books that I am begging for this to go differently, maybe that they are the same souls I'm different time lines like she had in her void notes? I don't know but I don't want to lose my tortured masked man because she finds herself a Sidhe prince.
Honestly this was just a good read. The main character makes that transition from lost and used tool of the kingdom to savior of a people in one book which may be why I feel like so much happened but that happens in around 700 pages I guess. She shows the dispondence and confusion through her writing which as a reader could get confusing at times. Looking back I can see that when she was with people that shit her connection down more the story became slogged and she became more confused so as a reader in her head we did too. However on first read it just felt as though the character had weird lines and jumped scenes.
The romance:
I think what struck me reading this book is that there where more than one option for a love interest. We get the guard from home, the broody warrior to the king, the trapped Sidhe warrior, we get glimpses into what could be good from each of them. I mean it's not like Tristan wouldn't have been a good option too. We do see more of the evolution and connection with Ivan, which is why when we get the reveal of Reynnar being her mate and why Osin had used them against each other by bonding her to the Hunter (Ivan) I was so confused. I had an inkling because we spend so much time with the made up language and her interactions with Reynnar through the cell walls and her reactions, but as I said before I am not prepared to let Ivan go, he was my pick.
I can't wait for the next book, and I'm hoping we pull a reverse harem situation because if we have to keep Reynnar and lose Ivan I am going to cry. 😭
July 22, 2026
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙—𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙥, 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙮.
Started on the slower side and took me a bit to really put all the world building pieces together in my brain but I feel like it was 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧 necessary to set the stage. The premise was super unique to me and the atmosphere that the author has created here is so vast and detailed. I’m glad I stuck it out because the payoff was amazing.
Our FMC Elara, is a prisoner, treated like property and used for her divine blood through eerie Druid rituals to give elemental powers to the Lord Sovereign and his High Council. She’s very naive and has basically accepted her misery. But someone close to her is murdered and that eye opening event that has her questioning everything. The way she’s treated pulled so many emotions out of me, like it’s dark, so fucking sad and almost hopeless. Elara’s character growth throughout this story though was so good (and it’s far from over with THAT ending).
Our MMC is a broody masked warrior with secrets of his own and lots to peel away. Buckle up because the slow burn is sloooooow and there’s so much tension.
“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘚𝘰 𝘯𝘰, 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥, 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵.”
There is a very intricate magic system that you have to really wrap your mind around, especially as we work back the layers of Elara’s history and learn more about how the elemental magic works.
SO MUCH happened in this book but I really appreciate how the author did not rush any of it, which really immersed my brain into the whole fantasy atmosphere. My goodness there are so many bigger things at play with this overarching plot. The twists and the ENDING!!! OMGGGG…
This is not a light and easy romantasy, and you definitely must be in the right mindset to fully appreciate grasp everything that’s happening but I am eager to dive into the next book after that heart wrenching ending.
“𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦.”
Started on the slower side and took me a bit to really put all the world building pieces together in my brain but I feel like it was 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧 necessary to set the stage. The premise was super unique to me and the atmosphere that the author has created here is so vast and detailed. I’m glad I stuck it out because the payoff was amazing.
Our FMC Elara, is a prisoner, treated like property and used for her divine blood through eerie Druid rituals to give elemental powers to the Lord Sovereign and his High Council. She’s very naive and has basically accepted her misery. But someone close to her is murdered and that eye opening event that has her questioning everything. The way she’s treated pulled so many emotions out of me, like it’s dark, so fucking sad and almost hopeless. Elara’s character growth throughout this story though was so good (and it’s far from over with THAT ending).
Our MMC is a broody masked warrior with secrets of his own and lots to peel away. Buckle up because the slow burn is sloooooow and there’s so much tension.
“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘚𝘰 𝘯𝘰, 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥, 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵.”
There is a very intricate magic system that you have to really wrap your mind around, especially as we work back the layers of Elara’s history and learn more about how the elemental magic works.
SO MUCH happened in this book but I really appreciate how the author did not rush any of it, which really immersed my brain into the whole fantasy atmosphere. My goodness there are so many bigger things at play with this overarching plot. The twists and the ENDING!!! OMGGGG…
This is not a light and easy romantasy, and you definitely must be in the right mindset to fully appreciate grasp everything that’s happening but I am eager to dive into the next book after that heart wrenching ending.
“𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦.”
July 13, 2025
While I'm a sucker for a gorgeous book cover, I'm an even bigger sucker for a gothic romantasy with a forbidden romance—and Blood So Deadly Divine delivers.
What to expect:
🖤 Gothic fantasy romance
🖤 3rd person POV
🖤 Førbidden romance
🖤 Dark magic
🖤 Magical bonds
🖤 Political intrigue
Spice rating: 🌶 (SLOW burn)
J.M. Grosvalet builds a beautifully gothic world full of dark magic, political tension, religious extremism, and plenty of mystery. The pacing is slow (especially in the first 50%, which leans heavily into the world building), but I ended up appreciating the depth and detail that went into setting the foundation for the series.
At almost 700, this is a long first book in a series, so I do feel there were a handful of scenes that could have been shortened or cut to reduce the length. That being said, I very much appreciate the level of detail and care that went into exploring the balance between society, politics, and religion within this world.
Elara is a resilient and relatable FMC who goes THROUGH IT in this book. Our masked MMC is duty-bound to the man Elara hates, and, unsurprisingly, I fell in love with him the moment his character appeared.
The slow burn within this book is SLOW. I genuinely have no clue what is happening between these two—and I LOVE that. The tension is unpredictable in the best way, and I'm still guessing who's endgame.
The twists within this book are fantastic. There are plenty of bread crumbs that lead you to what is happening, but it doesn't feel spoon fed.
THAT ENDING?! This was me processing the end of this book: 🤯🤬😭 Give me book 2 now, please.
A sincere thank you to the author, J.M. Grosvalet for gifting me a physical copy of Blood So Deadly Divine.
What to expect:
🖤 Gothic fantasy romance
🖤 3rd person POV
🖤 Førbidden romance
🖤 Dark magic
🖤 Magical bonds
🖤 Political intrigue
Spice rating: 🌶 (SLOW burn)
J.M. Grosvalet builds a beautifully gothic world full of dark magic, political tension, religious extremism, and plenty of mystery. The pacing is slow (especially in the first 50%, which leans heavily into the world building), but I ended up appreciating the depth and detail that went into setting the foundation for the series.
At almost 700, this is a long first book in a series, so I do feel there were a handful of scenes that could have been shortened or cut to reduce the length. That being said, I very much appreciate the level of detail and care that went into exploring the balance between society, politics, and religion within this world.
Elara is a resilient and relatable FMC who goes THROUGH IT in this book. Our masked MMC is duty-bound to the man Elara hates, and, unsurprisingly, I fell in love with him the moment his character appeared.
The slow burn within this book is SLOW. I genuinely have no clue what is happening between these two—and I LOVE that. The tension is unpredictable in the best way, and I'm still guessing who's endgame.
The twists within this book are fantastic. There are plenty of bread crumbs that lead you to what is happening, but it doesn't feel spoon fed.
THAT ENDING?! This was me processing the end of this book: 🤯🤬😭 Give me book 2 now, please.
A sincere thank you to the author, J.M. Grosvalet for gifting me a physical copy of Blood So Deadly Divine.
November 30, 2025
I saw a glimpse of something that would have been really good - but it remained a glimpse until the end
Liked
- I like the magic system and the fact that they were Druids (even though it was not exploited), elemental magic and void magic
- I liked the characters - Elara was annoying at time but overall she was a compelling main character
- The mystery and the plot was pretty interesting
Did not like:
- the pacing - if I need to go through 400+ pages to get an interesting and fast pace last 150 pages it’s not worth it for me, I struggled through the first 60% of the book and I was just bored, easily could have cut out the first half to give more space for the ending
- This was marketing as a gothic romantasy - the only seemingly gothic thing in the entire book (600+ pages) got one page of a manor description
- The book was slow and then suddenly it was super fast faced, so much that it lost me. I had no idea what was going on, why they were suddenly deep conversation about ether and void - I get why this was done suddenly you but also it was so confusing and rushed
- The main character learning a whole new language fluently in one week
- The timeline was confusing - kept referring to the FLC younger self but I had no idea if she was 12 or 16 or her age in general
- The ending was an indie romantasy ending and it just let me perplexe
Liked
- I like the magic system and the fact that they were Druids (even though it was not exploited), elemental magic and void magic
- I liked the characters - Elara was annoying at time but overall she was a compelling main character
- The mystery and the plot was pretty interesting
Did not like:
- the pacing - if I need to go through 400+ pages to get an interesting and fast pace last 150 pages it’s not worth it for me, I struggled through the first 60% of the book and I was just bored, easily could have cut out the first half to give more space for the ending
- This was marketing as a gothic romantasy - the only seemingly gothic thing in the entire book (600+ pages) got one page of a manor description
- The book was slow and then suddenly it was super fast faced, so much that it lost me. I had no idea what was going on, why they were suddenly deep conversation about ether and void - I get why this was done suddenly you but also it was so confusing and rushed
- The main character learning a whole new language fluently in one week
- The timeline was confusing - kept referring to the FLC younger self but I had no idea if she was 12 or 16 or her age in general
- The ending was an indie romantasy ending and it just let me perplexe
June 23, 2025
I really wanted to love this book. The writing was good, but the first 2/3 dragged, and I was bored. The pacing felt off for most of the story. I liked the ending, and it brought several plot lines together nicely, but it moved too quickly compared to most of the book and felt rushed. Will probably read the next one because the ending did redeem it for me.
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