Blood from the Marrow

Lilith's Legacy #2

by J.J. Arias

They found forever. Now forever is under siege.

Elena, Zuri, and Marisol have survived betrayal and found a love more powerful than they ever imagined. Then comes an invitation that plunges them into the opulent but treacherous world of vampire high society where every smile shows a little fang.

When political intrigue turns deadly, Elena will have to fight to protect everyone she loves. But there are more than just vampire rivals to vanquish. A ghost from Marisol’s past returns with a shattering Marisol isn’t the last of her kind, but they are being hunted into extinction.

With enemies closing in and ancient betrayals resurfacing, the throuple's bond is tested to the limit. To survive the coming war, they must forge a new army from distrustful vampires, powerful witches, and the scattered Aglion.

To fail is to die. And the only way to win is together.

Blood from the Marrow is the explosive and deeply emotional conclusion to the Lilith’s Legacy duology. It’s a paranormal sapphic romance packed with epic battles, searing passion, and the unbreakable power of a love worth fighting for.

Genres: Lesbian, Vampires, Paranormal, Fantasy, Witches, LGBT, Queer

423 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2025

About the author

Hello! And thank you for finding me!

I am an independent author writing about fictional lesbians of all varieties.

My writing journey began with fan faction, and as much as I LOVED being part of a community of super fans, I got tired of working with other people’s characters to tell my stories. I started asking myself: Why should we string together pieces of subtext when our community deserves well-developed main-text about LBGT people and those who love them! So, that is what I aim to deliver.

If you want to know a little more about me personally, J.J. Arias is my pen name. I do have a day job, and due to the industry I’m in, I can’t write under my given name. Although who knows, maybe one day I can write full-time and come out of the … office? I am a Scorpio woman (I know, I know, but I’m a nice one I PROMISE) happily married to a uniquely wonderful Cancer lady. Together we have several fur babies of the feline and canine varieties.

So, here I am, and I hope you enjoy my writing! I’m very open to thoughts, comments, critiques, and knock-knock jokes, so please feel free to message me with any of the above – or anything else you would like to say!

Reviews

[Juniper L.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this a lot. Part two of a duology, and I can say that each novel holds up on their own as well as together. This book got a lot more of the plot whereas the previous one got a lot more of the relationship (and spice). I am rounding up to get to this rating as there were several elements to this novel that didn’t quite land right for me, but the overall package was definitely a good one. I would recommend this duology.

One brilliant thing about this novel: it starts with a summary of the previous one. Incredible! I think every series needs to take a note of this because it was wonderful!

I liked the continuation of the worldbuilding as this is a neat little world the author created. Not always perfectly making sense to me, but it’s a solid showing none the less. I like how magic works, and the different supernaturals that were present (though I was surprised there wasn’t more variety to be honest). I liked the storyline, even if it wandered a bit and took a full book to get to the main point (hah!).

The romance was solid. I loved the way the three protagonist were all equally involved in their relationship without a hierarchy and how much genuine love and care they had for each other. Having two people to sandwich you in a hug sounds great after a long day to be honest. As does having two people to gang up on you to call you on your bullshit when you are being dumb, though it probably wouldn’t be enjoyable in the moment. The romance was the highlight of the novel for me!

The plotline and action parts were “fine”. I don’t think this is the authors strong point, though they are far improved compared to the other vampire series they wrote back in 2019. It honestly reminded me a lot of reading the Twilight series in the sense that you can tell what kinds of scenes the author is stronger with and which they are not (in both cases its stronger romance and weaker action).

I will also say that I found myself (and one of my read-along buddies) getting confused with the number of different names and how many of them were similar. Not a big deal, but enough that I had to double check who-was-who a few times and got slightly confused.

[3DKing · Rating 5 out of 5]

They bonk a little too often. The hurt/comfort is real. The action is a 80s movie. The villain is a 80s movie. The happy end is Fan fiction worthy. I love it. Never want to go on that emotional rollercoaster again.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books about supernatural beings not really my favourite type of books but for some special authors like J.J. Arias I make an exception and read whatever they write since I know it will be good regardless of genre. I devoured the first book in h the Lilith’s Legacy duology in January and did of course start to read Blood from the Marrow the very day it was published. This 2nd and final book in the duology did not disappoint. You get the whole committed throuple part developed even further, the Aglion mystery revealed gradually and a new big threat, Sayah, they must fight to survive.

This book is another hit by the author and a must read if you love a combination of steam and action.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 stars

I love my little witch, vampire, angel throuple.

J.J. Arias books are where I am at my most indulgent. The romance is at exponential levels of all consuming devotion and you know what? I eat it up.

[OceaneZw · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best written sapphic story of vampires, witches, and more I have ever read

This author knows how to write her characters in a believable, human way. She knows how to have enough action without it turning into pages of describing every move, she knows how to turn things steamy without it sounding like self-fulfilling purple prose. The connection the main characters share is amazing and takes in the depth of each character's flaws along with their strengths. I don't mean flaws like "doesn't know how pretty she is" or some flakey flaw like "is an asshole to everyone except those she loves". Real flaws that they have to work through, and do not totally solve, but get better with by the end. This is a series that well represents the 21st century ideals of how love works.

THANK YOU J.J. Arias for this very well-written story. This is the standard that sapphic romance should have.

[marnie ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

loooove when a fantasy sequel actually remembers to round off all the main plot points. can’t believe i was rooting for a throuple, 5 stars xxxx

[Jaime Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.J. Arias has done it again, taking a world I already loved and cracking it wide open. And Kingsley Rose delivers this world with absolute perfection. Every voice, every shift in POV, and every ounce of emotion is so clear and distinct, it’s impossible not to sink completely into this story.

At its core, this story is about devotion. Not the easy kind, but the kind that stays when things are ugly, painful, and terrifying. Elena’s heartbreaking vulnerability shattered me, especially against the unwavering love and compassion Marisol and Zuri gave her at every turn. Their relationship feels epically ancient, beautifully new, and fiercely tender all at once. Every moment between them carries this aching devotion that makes the stakes feel even sharper.

The lore expanded in such satisfying ways too. Ancient betrayals, old legends, retribution, and sacrifice. Every thread felt purposeful, emotionally devastating, and perfectly rounded out. Getting to know more about Sofia and Librada added so much depth and heart (I would sell my soul for more Lib and Hel content immediately).

This series concludes and proves that real power isn’t domination, it’s love. It’s choosing each other over and over again, even when the world is trying to tear you apart. It’s fierce, heartbreaking, intimate, and full of the kind of devotion that settles deep into your marrow.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to real this ALC!

Favorite Quotes:
“In her life, [she] had never felt more complete. Together, they were a blend of moon and sun, of fire and water, of air and earth. They were the balance she had craved for centuries, they harmony she never dared dream of. The brought her something better than a love worth dying for. They'd given her something worth living for.”

“The beauty is not in the breaking, but the coming back stronger than before. Scars dipped in gold.”

“Family is what we make it, not who made us.”

“She was happier in mortal peril as long as she was with the women she loved.”

“We're not going anywhere. We're here. We chose you, and we'll keep choosing you every single day. This is what love is. It's not just the good parts. It's chosing each other even when everything's falling apart. It's staying, always.”

“It’s not called ‘retribution’ because it changes the past. It balances the scale, punishes like with like.”

“There was no power in ruling. Only in building something worth protecting.”

[Sar4h · Rating 5 out of 5]

While not without flaws (at least in its current state), this second and final entry in the duology is a massive improvement over the first book. Despite being the longer of the two novels, the pacing is significantly improved and the narrative flows better. Whereas the first book often seemed to decide at random whether a chapter would go for fantasy worldbuilding, smutty romance, or supernatural mafia action movie, Blood from the Marrow manages to combine these directions into one coherent whole.

The villain is an improvement as well: in a rather bizarre move, For Love and Blood and Fury introduced its main antagonist in the final act, only to so quickly get rid of him that both the reader and the protagonists were left wondering whether that was really it. Blood from the Marrow, on the other hand, introduces its villain early on. This time around, the antagonist is more or less a vampire Bond villain set on world domination, and while that is as cheesy as it sounds, it’s also a really fun concept for an antagonist, making every scene in which she appears a delight.

I found the writing much better this time around, although Arias still tends to overuse certain phrases (pretty much every character is described as having “dark eyes”). While I can excuse this, what really annoyed me were the frequent errors that seem to affect nearly every aspect of the book. Spelling mistakes and punctuation and formatting errors can be ignored relatively easily, but there are so many sentences that are just outright missing words that it can affect the reading flow. Even worse are the instances in which Arias mixes up words, and for example writes “vampires” when she actually means witches. I started reading the Kindle Unlimited version the day it released, so hopefully some of these errors will be fixed for the print release. In the novel’s current state, these errors are frequent enough that they should be addressed through some sort of update to the ebook version. It’s a bit baffling that no one caught these mistakes prior to release, and it makes me hope that perhaps the author can recruit some loyal fans as beta readers for her next book.

Slight lack of polish aside, this is a really fun mixture of supernatural thriller and love story. The three protagonists are still as witty and likable the second time around, and all the weaker aspects of the first book have seen dramatic improvement. If “sapphic poly vampire romance” sounds like something you’d enjoy, definitely give this duology a try.

[Ares Amon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lilith

Warning potential spoilers 😭: I read the first book so I was really excited to read this one and see what happens to the trio…. I’ll say I enjoyed the concept of this book just like I enjoyed the poly relationship since their aren’t to many poly books or poly supernatural books. I still love the characters and can say lib’s and Sofia are definitely two of my favorite.

Here’s the thing.. this book was basically just like the first one it was all about Elena and her cartel of vampires having issues with another cartel and having to join forces with other groups of supernaturals to fight. Elena spent the first 5-6 chapters feeling sorry for herself and pushing everyone away while zuri and Marisol took the reins. If you remember how the first book ends you’d assume this book would be more about the Aglion (the angels) and Marisol since you leave off with her mother finding her and saying she’s in danger. But no you get the first 5-6 chapters of the book talking about the Aglion then they pretty much are none existent until it’s time to prepare for war which even then they don’t come back till maybe chapter 30-35ish. You find out they are being hunted but like I said that isn’t talked about since chapter 6 or 7 the rest of the book is all about Elena and her coming war and everybody preparing… you jump ahead into chapters 39-40 the war is over and now you meet a small group that is supposedly a part of a large group hunting the Aglion. This fight is cutdown to not even a whole chapter but maybe the last 3 pages of a chapter and it’s over. Then everybody moves on even though they were presented with the fact that there are more hunters out there the book is basically over. I would have rather the book have been all about the Aglion than for the author to rush their story into the final pages of the book like she forgot and just had to hurry and work it in there. Not to mention Elena, zuri and Marisol’s relationship had more moments where it seemed to be more about Elena and zuri while Marisol was an after thought. So many tender sweet moments between those two that Marisol walked in on and was hesitant about ruining their moment together which made sense because she was almost always left out of those moments and she barely had any with Elena to being with. I was hoping to see maybe a 3rd book coming or in the works but if this is the last book it honestly just doesn’t fit but I would recommend giving it a read and deciding for yourself.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

i don’t really think this book needed a full length sequel. it could’ve just been a 150 page novella

[Kelsey Kirkwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite

JJ is an auto-buy author for me, and she created something absolutely magical with this book and these characters. This duet is one of my all time favorites by far.

[Faiza BEGUM · Rating 4 out of 5]

J.J. Arias truly outdid herself with this conclusion to the Lilith Legacy duology because I am emotionally DESTROYED in the best possible way 😭🖤 And paired with Kingsley Rose’s narration? Absolute perfection. Every POV felt so distinct, every emotion landed exactly where it needed to, and the intensity of this world completely swallowed me whole.

Bone From the Marrow takes everything established in For Love And Blood And Fury and expands it into something so much bigger ✨ The stakes are higher, the lore goes deeper, the emotions hit harder, and the fantasy elements feel even more epic this time around.

At the center of it all is Elena, Zuri, and Marisol ❤️‍🔥 Their bond already felt powerful in the first book, but here it becomes something almost unbreakable — raw, consuming, protective, and deeply emotional. This story isn’t just about romance, it’s about devotion in its fiercest form. The kind of love that survives fear, pain, sacrifice, and impossible odds.

Elena absolutely shattered my heart 😭 Her vulnerability throughout this book felt so real, especially while carrying the weight of protecting the people she loves most. And the way Zuri and Marisol loved her through every broken, painful moment?? I physically ached for them. Their relationship feels ancient and fated while also remaining incredibly soft and intimate at the same time.

I also loved how much the world-building expanded 👏 Vampires, witches, angel mythology, ancient grudges, betrayals, prophecies, sacrifice — everything layered together into this dark, fantastical paranormal world that felt cinematic and immersive. The scale of the story became so much larger in this installment too, building toward massive fantasy-style conflict and war that felt worthy of the emotional journey these characters endured.

And speaking of emotional damage… Sofia and Librada 🥹🖤 Every additional piece of their story added so much depth and heart to the book. I genuinely need more Lib and Hel content immediately because I am NOT okay.

The action scenes were intense, chaotic, and visually vivid ⚔️🔥 Watching Elena’s growing alliance prepare for war while dangerous enemies closed in kept the tension high the entire time. The final confrontation felt explosive and emotional all at once.

What I appreciated most though was the underlying message throughout the series ✨ True strength here never comes from control or cruelty — it comes from love, loyalty, sacrifice, and continuously choosing each other even when everything around them is falling apart.

And Kingsley Rose’s audiobook narration elevated ALL of it 🎧🖤 The emotion in the performances made the heartbreak sharper, the intimacy more tender, and the battles feel even more cinematic. Listening to this world unfold honestly made it impossible to stop once I started.

This duology is dark, emotional, magical, violent, romantic, and completely consuming 🩸✨ But PLEASE read For Love And Blood And Fury first because the emotional payoff in Bone From the Marrow hits infinitely harder when you’ve experienced the entire journey alongside these characters.

I’m honestly going to miss Elena, Zuri, and Marisol so much 😭❤️

[Bethie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This didn’t quite land for me in the way the first book did. While there are still interesting ideas at play, this installment ultimately felt unnecessary and a bit overindulgent in areas that didn’t serve the story.

One of the biggest challenges for me was the pacing. Particularly Elena’s emotional arc after the attack. Her spiral into guilt and depression, centered on not protecting her ladies, felt drawn out to the point of becoming repetitive. The emotional weight is understandable, but it lingered so long that it stalled the narrative rather than deepening it.

I also continue to struggle with the central relationship. For a throuple dynamic, it felt unrealistic that we never really see meaningful one-on-one intimacy between the characters. That absence made the relationship feel less grounded, especially when the story insists on a level of all-consuming, obsessive love that doesn’t feel fully earned on the page. There simply isn’t enough time spent showing these characters building that depth of connection.

For a paranormal romance, I expected a stronger presence of the paranormal elements. Instead, those aspects often feel sidelined in favor of frequent sex scenes, which, while clearly a focus of the book, begin to outweigh plot and worldbuilding. When we do get glimpses of expansion, like learning more about Marisol’s lineage or the introduction of the anglion, it’s intriguing, but underdeveloped. These elements deserved more time and depth to really make an impact.

The antagonist was another weak point. The “big bad” lacked presence and urgency, which made the stakes feel low. There’s a lot of telling rather than showing when it comes to the threat, so the tension never fully materializes.

Overall, this sequel had potential, but it leans too heavily on internal angst and surface-level intensity without enough narrative substance to support it. I wanted more action, more paranormal intrigue, and more convincing emotional development and unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver.

[Cindi Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are several things I loved about this book/duology. First, the reminder that I am not defined by the organization that issues my W-2. This was said to a nurse and as a nurse myself we tend to lose ourselves to our jobs! Next, I loved the reference to Japanese kintsugi pottery. Again, something I needed to hear at that moment. How the real beauty of this art form is in the repair of the brokenness and trauma the piece goes through. I also loved how talented the narrator of this duology is. I hate it when I’m listening to a story and the narrator struggles to get the heart of the different characters voices. It makes it hard to figure out what is going on when they all sound similar. But Kingsley Rose did an amazing job infusing personality and emotion into each character in this story.

This narrative takes you on a journey of discovery and adventure that is both thrilling and terrifying. Anyone who has experienced love knows that it is both exciting but also terrifying. As the three women in this book are navigating their way through new love, they are also fighting against those who are working to destroy what they have created and the world they live in.

I really enjoyed this series. I found the characters to be very relatable. I very much enjoyed the overall plot, however I sometimes found it difficult to follow along. I feel as though there could’ve been more details given to world building and character development. For instance, I didn’t really feel anything good or bad towards the villain in this series. Whereas I feel like I should’ve hated them with a passion. I think that because I really enjoyed the storyline I wanted more details of everything. I understand that is not always possible, but I feel like I wanted to know my enemy more.

But at the end of the day, I would definitely recommend this book to other fantasy readers. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this opportunity to review this title.

[Shivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sad the series is over, but my watch for her next book continues

Arias never disappoints. This second book has more story and fewer hot scenes than the first — though I'd say it leans a little too much into romanticism at times. But you know what? I didn't really mind.

What I absolutely loved was the dynamic between the three characters. Let me break it down:

· 🦇 The vampire – the dark side
· 👼 The angel – the luminous side
· 🔮 The witch – the gray area that brings them together

And here's the thing: they're not opposites. They're not fighting against each other. They're complementary. The dark and the light don't cancel each other out — they complete each other. And the witch? She's the bridge, the balance, the one who holds both energies together. That dynamic was chef's kiss.

What I also loved is how the characters explain their love for each other in so many different ways. Not just through words, but through actions, sacrifices, and quiet moments. And that got me thinking… in real life, we so often fail to say what we actually feel. This book reminded me that maybe we should try harder.

The author dives deeper into the lore in this one, and I'm so glad she did. The world has so much potential, and she explores it beautifully.

I'm honestly sad to have finished this two-book series. 😔 That said, I just found out there's apparently a short story about how Zuri and Elena first met — so at least there's that little extra to look forward to.

For now, I'll be here, waiting for whatever Arias writes next.

[lirissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of the Lilith's Legacy duology.
I ended up immersive reading this one with the ALC and Ebook.
Reading book 1 first is highly recommended to understand the main characters and the lore behind the paranormal world. (ebook comes with a quick recap but audiobook doesn't so keep that in mind too when reading)

The emotional delivery of the characters and their relationships are what drive this story and I was there for every moment of it. With the love interest and dynamics in the poly throuple established in book one, book two, while keeping the tension and spice, a big part of the focus is on the layered complexities of the word and characters.

I started listening to the ALC having not read book one yet, but a few chapters in I got a little overwhelmed by all the characters and their unique backgrounds and I quickly realised I needed to go back and read book one in order to truly appreciate it all.
I wish audiobooks included the what you missed in book one section, although as mentioned above this one needs to be read in order to truly get the full understanding.

Audiobook performance by Kingsley Rose was perfect for this world, excited to dive into the other books by this Author x Narrator collaboration.

This was my 3rd or 4th book by the author and I am blown away by the variety of books, excited to read more that I keep seeing on my Instagram feed.

Big thank you to the author and publisher for the ALC provided via Netgalley.

[SullenSapphic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice Level: 2/5 Explicit Open-Door

The Lilith Legacy duology continues with Elena, Zuri, and Marisol. Their bond has only grown stronger from the previous book and Bone From the Marrow puts that bond to the test again. Elena must fight to protect those who she loves and Marisol finds out that she is not the last of her kind. A war is coming and they must be ready to fight. Can Elena protect the ones she loves?

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and the Author in return for my honest review. Unfortunately, I am a little biased because I am a fan of J.J. Arias and her writing. This book is part of a duality and is the second and last book in the series. I would highly suggest reading / listening to the first book in the duality before reading / listening to this book because the background in the first book will help you understand the characters better in this book. As much as I love J.J.’s writing, there were times in this book where the pacing felt sluggish.

These areas of the book moving slowly aside, there are vampires, witches, angel lore and much more to put you in a fantastical paranormal world. Not to mention, there is spice and epic fantasy-style battles. Like I said, this is a duality where the first book should be read prior to this book but both are recommended.

🩸 FFF Romance
🩸 Blood
🩸 Vampires
🩸 Witches
🩸 Kidnapping
🩸 Death
🩸 Paranormal
🩸 Found Family

[zagzig · Rating 4 out of 5]

like if The Battle of the Five Armies was preceded by a whole bunch of threesomes

continuing on from For Love And Blood And Fury, the scale of the fantasy is amped way up in this book. from a bunch of stinky MRA vampires hiding in a swamp to a full on big fantasy climax war scene. the urban fantasy in general stands up better on its own this book, though Sayah and her crew do still end up feeling a bit flat as antagonists. there's a lot of work setting up Elena's coalition of magical weirdos and then Sayah just rocks up at the end with a whole bunch of vampires and rushes them

the work was done establishing the throuple in the first book so Elena, Zuri, and Marisol find themselves kind of running in place romantically - there's no real developments to be had, just a lot of fucking and intense declarations of love and a very cool wedding. that being said, the spice scenes are once again very good. I assume people read this book for a vampire, a witch, and an angel having varied, creative, and intense sexual intercourse

also I am apparently on a sapphic vampire kick today. I might be judging this book a little harshly because it's not my favourite vampire media of all time - read Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil. and read Blood from the Marrow as well. there's a lot of stuff worth reading

[diamondinthepages · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received the audiobook for Blood from the Marrow by Blood from the Marrow from NetGalley and omg this book was an absolute wild ride from start to finish. One thing I have to praise immediately was the narrator because with so many characters and moving pieces, I never once felt confused about who was speaking. Every character had such a distinct voice and personality that it made the audiobook experience incredibly immersive.
Now for the actual story… Elena had me STRESSED. I spent more than half this book frustrated with her because girl… you are an ancient vampire, please act like it! She felt so different in this installment and there were multiple moments where I just wanted to shake her and tell her to get it together.
We did get some very spicy explicit scenes and while they were definitely hot, I’ll admit some of them felt a little misplaced. At times it felt more like sex for the sake of sex instead of moments that really pushed the story forward emotionally or plot-wise.
That being said, I was still fully invested the entire time and by the ending I am desperate for book 3. I need answers immediately and I really hope the next book picks up right where this one left off.

[Brittany Montano · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars—Rounded down to 4

Blood From the Marrow was such a strong and emotional conclusion to the Lilith’s Legacy duology. JJ Arias continues to deliver beautiful prose, compelling relationships, and emotionally charged storytelling that kept me fully invested from beginning to end.

I’ve been following Arias and reading her work for a while now, and one thing that always stands out to me is how effortlessly she creates stories that leave me wanting more. The combination of political intrigue, supernatural conflict, and the deep emotional bond between Elena, Zuri, and Marisol made this a really satisfying read.

As a fellow Cuban-American from Miami, there’s also something incredibly special about supporting and reading Arias’s work. There’s a sense of pride and familiarity woven into her storytelling that resonates deeply with me.

Overall, this was an engaging, passionate, and emotionally impactful paranormal romance, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what Arias releases next.

Thank you, NetGalley, Tantor Audio, and JJ Arias for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest and fair review.

[Kate Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: 5 Stars
Format: Digital
Series: Lilith’s Legacy Book 2
Steam Level: Steamy

My expectations were sky high for this book and wow, not only did it meet them, they were blown out of the water.

Quick Thoughts:
- I love how Elena, Zuri, and Marisol compliment each other perfectly and are all in with their relationship.
- This duology is now my personal standard I will be holding all other poly relationships to. Seeing them being vulnerable and supportive of each other was fantastic
- How these three willingly step out of their comfort zones for each other really showed the trust they built between them
- It was fun to watch Librada and Sophie finally fully embrace Zuri and visa versa
- Crocheting!!!
- We get so much more information on Elena’s and Librada’s past and it was so satisfying to learn more
- My heart broke for Elena so many times in this book. I was incredibly glad she had Marisol and Zuri there for her
- Yup, the sex was still incredibly hot in this book
- Seeing so many different people come together and break down those walls separating them had me cheering
- The soul binding and new coven made me so happy
- No third act break up!
- I absolutely did not expect it but I cried after that first battle
- The ending was positively fantastic. It hit all the feelings of the conflicting emotions of the aftermath of battle perfectly. It felt genuine in a way that that a lot of books don’t
- LOVED getting a peek at how the paranormal world changed after everything
- Also adored seeing how their family expanded, fully embraced, and loved each other

Overall this was an absolutely fantastic ending to this duology. I could not put it down and it flung my emotions all over the place. I am going to keep my fingers crossed that we might get another book or novella set further down the road to see how things are moving along and how the soul binding affects them in the long run. But even if that never happens, this was a satisfying ending and is now permanently on my favorite books list.

[Teal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story: excellent.
Characters: excellent.
Spice: excellent.
Fight scenes: strategically dubious in places?
Editing: a few errors.

I love that this duology shows an incredibly strong vampire at her weakest points of existence. Her two (non-vampire) girlfriends taking care of her and fighting for her was a poignant way to allow their thruple relationship to develop as equals. They're also just sweet as heck together. It's rare to read about a thruple, rarer to read about a loving thruple (rather than pure spice), and mythical to read about a committed thruple after the initial HEA. J.J. Arias could write 12 more books about their relationship without it ever getting dull.

The action scenes made me frown a bit. There were a couple of places in the story where characters with a lot of combat experience ignored a very obvious advantage or danger. I shouldn't be smarter than a centuries-old vampire.

There were a few minor editing errors (eg. "filed" instead of "filled") but they didn't detract from the story.

[Theresa C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood from the Marrow is book two of the Lilith's Legacy duology, and it should definitely be read in proper order for full effect. It's a sapphic, fantasy/paranormal, action-romance.

Tropes: why choose, vampire-witch-healer, grumpy-grumpy-sunshine

This will probably be a big hit for those who are bigger fans of the fantasy/paranormal genre itself. I thought it was good, but I didn't love it as much as I love J.J.'s contemporary romances (which to be clear, I love). This book has a bit more dialogue and back story, more action and a little less spice than the first book. It definitely hits you with the emotions too - especially when delving into Marisol and Clara's past. Overall, this was an entertaining book, just not exactly my niche. I would say the story is a 3.5, but I rounded up to 4 because Kingsley Rose's narration was phenomenal. She really elevated the experience for me.

An audio version of this book was provided to me by NetGalley, thank you!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I enjoy all of J.J. Arias’ work, this book (and the duology) has to be one of my favorites. Her writing is so exquisitely rich, and the story had me in tears in many places, and occasionally laughing out loud. It’s gripping, emotional, full of non-stop action; spicy, and humorous in all the right places. All of the characters are so complex, and the developing relationships among them are beautiful and so real. Just an overall beautiful and powerful story in so many ways. Best of all, the author actually wrote a summary of the first book in the front of this one, after I’d mentioned to her at a book festival that it would be helpful in a complex series like this! I read a LOT of books, and I’m so grateful not to have to go back and reread the prior books to remember what has happened. Other authors were not so receptive to this idea, but J.J. did it. If you like paranormal action with spice and romance, I highly recommend this book. What a ride!

[Shannon Luchies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that the book includes a summary of the first one. Nice touch.

Elena, Zuri and Marsol are together, but dealing with the aftermath of one of Elena's people betraying her. As well, Zuri wants to start a new covenant, but needs a certain type of rare artifact.

Marisol is shocked to be contacted by Clara, the woman who abandoned her as a baby. She claims she left her for her own protection as SOMETHING is hunting them. Marisol doesn't believe her, but is uneasy.

Attending a vampire celebration, Elena learns she's been betrayed. Again.

I do kinda of feel the villain reveal was a bit meh. Maybe it should have been set up more?

Elena, Zuri and Marisol assemble their allies, big fight, bad guy beaten.

3.75 out of 5.

[JAYNE MARRIOTT · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing storyline about covens and vampires coming together to fight for the greater good, though not everyone is willing to unite and each coven and vampire must choose where their loyalty lies. Throughout the book, soul bonds form between characters from different backgrounds, highlighting love, devotion, growth, and learning to understand each other’s true nature. The relationships add emotional depth to the fantasy world, while the battles and sacrifices keep the stakes high — and without giving too much away, not every character may make it through. Readers should also note that the book is very spicy and descriptive from the beginning, so it may not suit those who prefer less explicit romance.

[Pam Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

JJ Arias has another hit on her hands. This sequel in the Lilith’s Legacy duology was a great conclusion to the story following Elena, Zuri, and Marisol. There was great character growth for each of these FMCs throughout the book. Elena learning more about the Aglion from other Aglions was a highlight for me.

I am not ready for this world JJ Arias built to end. If there is an Aglion spinoff, I will read it.
And Judith and Sophia. I need their story, please.

Kingsley Rose did a great job with the narration. She really added to the reading experience.

Thank you Tantor Media and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kayleigh Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great ending to the sapphic supernatural duology. I would honestly read about Marisol, Zuri, and Elena doing anything at this point. I just love their dynamic and the way they balance each other out. I am not normally a throuple gal, but I just love these three together. I think this book took the characters much deeper by digging into loss, sacrifice, and what makes a family. My only complaint was that it was starting to feel like Breaking Dawn with different supernatural beings training together in preparation for a vampire war. I did really like how they were all authentically themselves the whole book and did not compromise on their morality, even though they were not always aligned.
Also hello!!! The spice in this book definitely took it up a few notches while not letting the plot take the backseat. And shoutout Kingsley Rose for always doing such a phenomenal job narrating.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Yeah… this book was basically made for me. Messy sapphic paranormal romance with vampires, witches, danger, emotional chaos, and women willing to absolutely ruin themselves for the people they love? Immediately yes.

Blood from the Marrow was intense from the start and honestly kept me hooked the entire time. The relationships in this series are SO messy in the best possible way. Everyone is carrying trauma, grief, jealousy, fear, and love all at once, and it makes the emotional dynamics feel really raw and real even with all the paranormal fantasy elements happening around them.

I also just love when sapphic fantasy leans darker and more emotionally complicated instead of trying to make everyone morally perfect. Give me the obsessive loyalty, the bad decisions, the “I would burn the world down for you” energy every single time.

The world itself felt dramatic and dangerous without becoming confusing, and the pacing kept things moving really well. There was always tension building whether it was from the relationships, the politics, or the constant feeling that everything could completely fall apart at any moment.

And the narrator honestly did such a good job. Kingsley Rose made the audiobook flow really naturally and kept me fully immersed in the story. Sometimes paranormal/fantasy audiobooks can feel hard to follow if the narration doesn’t click, but this one was super easy to stay invested in because the emotional delivery really worked for the characters and tone of the story