The sacred names of supernatural creatures are being used to control them against their will, allowing something malevolent to carry out its dark plan. Kelpies are attacking people in London parks, vampires are turning anyone they come across, and spirits are wreaking havoc.
Junior Exorcist Annie Dean works for the Order, an ancient organisation created to keep supernatural creatures in check.
When an assignment goes wrong, Annie is thrown into a fight between good and evil. With the help of magical creatures, dangerous vampires and beautiful Sidhe, Annie must push herself beyond her limit and fight for those she loves.
Follow Annie's story on the streets of London and in mysterious Realms as she brushes shoulders with kelpies, Sidhe, Lycans and demi-gods to restore the balance and discover what is causing chaos in her world.
This was the perfect way to start my Autumn reading. Witches, vampires, a bustling London setting and mysterious (muscly) men from another realm - what more could you want?
The world building was spot on and I was so invested in the characters by the end - can’t wait for the rollercoaster of events that I’m sure is to come in Book 2.
Jade Lamb - what an incredible world you have created. I’m in awe!
As someone who has heard of bad experiences reading books from indie authors I was worried this was going to be the same but I am happy to say I was so wrong!!
I absolutely loved this book it was just the right amount of fantasy and real life and the characters were so easy to fall in love with. Villains often end up being written very similarly but even the villains in this book were all unique. The pace was great despite it being a long book there was always something building and some action to keep me hooked!
There are mythical and magical creatures, emotional storylines, romances and plenty of action scenes!
I'm so excited for book 2 as the end was such a cliffhanger so I'm desperate to see how it plays out! I would really recommend this book if you're looking for something a bit different but still firmly in line with all the fantasy and romance storylines we know and love!
I read an ARC for this book and it was so good!! I loved the witchiness and the setting of London. There was some great character development and I’m definitely eagerly waiting to read the second book when it comes out.
I wish I could give this 3.5 stars versus 3. I enjoyed the characters, Annie felt like a real person as she is down to earth and a fairly regular person, anxiety, quirks and all. I can relate to her on a personal level. The chemistry and banter between several of the main characters were a highlight of the story.
The initial setting felt like a buddy cop dark comedy but with exorcism, which was good fun for the first half of the book, including some genuinely terrifying situations with demons and other sinister creatures. The story diverged from this in the latter half, which made it feel like a different story altogether, so it was a bit of a disconnect. I struggled to keep connecting through the latter half because of this.
For the heaviness of the subject matter the stakes felt quite low for most of the story and only ratcheted up at the end, it felt as though there was a lack of tension in parts that perhaps contributed to this feeling. However if you enjoy low to mid stakes then this is a great recommendation for that.
My only other bit of feedback would be around the voice of the different POVs. The prose didn’t feel like different characters speaking so it was a bit difficult to get into the character’s mindset and energy for their POV sections.
The story didn’t wow me enough for 4 stars but it was better than 3. The characters and subject matter are interesting enough to continue the series so I will definitely pick it up once available.
Note: This review is based on reading an advanced copy of this book.
An utterly immersive, emotional, beautifully crafted read.
From the very first chapters, I knew I was in safe hands. The writing style is so clean and vivid that it pulled me straight into the world without a single bump. The descriptions aren’t just pretty—they’re cinematic. Every location felt fully realised, from the secret eighth floor of the London Hippodrome to the rose garden with its ethereal wisps. The imagery is lush and imaginative, yet nothing ever feels like an info-dump. The lore unfolds naturally, scene by scene, the way the best fantasy worlds do. The chapter-opening excerpts from fictional texts were one of my favourite touches. They added this incredible feeling of depth, as if entire libraries of history and myth existed just beyond the page. It gave me that rare sense of stepping into a living universe with its own archives and legends. Annie is a fantastic lead. Imperfect in all the right ways, sharp-witted, unafraid to stand up for herself, but never pushed into caricature. She’s grounded, real, and incredibly easy to root for. And Aeron… I adored him. He’s warm, gentle, unexpectedly sweet, and written with such care that the smallest details—that dimple, the way he carries himself—made him leap off the page. The world-building is honestly outstanding. Magical creatures, hidden orders, portraits watching from the walls, statues in sunlit atriums—everything is described with such clarity that I could see it all. The whole story had that rare transportive quality that made me forget I was reading. I cried more than once. It gave me the same kind of immersive joy I get from big, expansive fantasy romance worlds—imaginative, emotional, full of heart—without ever feeling derivative or trying to be something it’s not. And the ending… without spoilers, it’s intense. Emotional, dramatic, full of consequences that hit hard. I genuinely wasn’t prepared for how much it would make me feel. This book is rich, creative, beautifully written, and full of soul. If you love stories that build entire worlds around you—the kind with magic, history, warmth, heartbreak, and characters you can’t help falling for—this one is absolutely worth reading. I’m so proud of Jade for writing something this special. It’s the kind of book you live inside of, not just read.
My FAVOURITE BOOK OF FEBRUARY ALL HAIL JADE LAMB!! Just like YARROS, you have RUINED ME! Jade has created an absolutely unique universe, and I am HERE FOR IT! You can tell Jade researched for everything included in this book, from monsters in English/Scottish/Irish folklore (Kelpies anyone?) to the deep dive into fascinating characters from history and turning them into something completely new (Elizabeth Bathory as a vampire?! Hell yes! This has everything for any lover of Buffy, Supernatural, Charmed, etc. Annie is a relatable character in her late 20s and feels like she's failing at life (don't we all?) and her magic. Her mother renounced magic, and her grandmother - a very powerful witch - has died, and Annie is so lost at the start of the book. The Order (think Watchers council but with witches... watching witches) she works for doesn't even believe in her.
Enter Jonah and Aeron... who are (obviously) two smoking hot men from a different realm that need Annie's help. They think that The Order are doing something with the magic, and it's also affecting the other realms. With the help of her new bestie (and crazy lead exorcist) Kayla, a Kelpie named Bella and Annie's jealous vampire ex Sya, Annie tries to uncover the truth about The Order and finding out some things about herself in the process.
This book had me on the edge of my seat throughout, I was hooked from the start and just didn't want to put it down. Every character is well developed and brings something different to the book. It had me laughing, gasping, giggling like a schoolgirl, and also crying...
I am a lover of spicy books, and this is the first book without ANY SPICE to keep me interested in MONTHS! I DIDN'T EVEN MISS IT! The book was SO good. I didn't even think about it... The slow burn of Annie and Aeron had me on the edge of my seat, and I think any spice would have deferred away from the storyline, so I was glad there wasn't any.
I could go on with how amazing this book is but I think you need to read it yourself but if you love Fantasy/Found Family/Magic/Monsters/Folklore/world building stories but are also influenced by the writers love for the "monster of the week" type tv shows she watched (buffy/Supernatural/Charmed etc) with a diverse group of friends and relatable characters then I guarantee you'll love it!
I adore this book. It is going to live in my head for a really long time!
When I was little, I used to feel a magic come over me when reading books. I was always entranced! As an adult this has faded and it doesn’t pop up often. Reading this book made the magic come back tenfold and I was deeply engrossed in the story. I could not put the book down and I read a record 600+ pages in the space of 3 days.
Annie was an enjoyable and relatable character! She reacted to the monsters and ghouls exactly how I thought a normal person would react. She was down to earth and likable! I enjoyed getting to know the other characters with Kayla and Rune being firm favourites in the story. The complexities of the relationships were interesting and developed well! Annie’s Mum was certainly intriguing and I am looking forward to seeing more in the sequel!
Annie and Aeron’s relationship was a slow burn and whilst I’m not fond of romance, this wasn’t overwhelming and was a good addition to the plot. It is the type of exciting romance that’s new and sends sparks flying- exciting to read! But as romance usually dominates a plot, this didn’t and I appreciated this greatly.
The plot was perfect! Adventurous, thrilling, well paced and had a perfect amount of drama and plot twists! It was easy to follow and all the different elements of the story really came together! I am absolutely dying to read the next book! I don’t think I will be forgetting this book very quickly.
OH MY GOD THIS BOOK. I was inctedibly lucky to receive an ARC copy for my honest review, and I could not put this down, but I forced myself to put it down because I didn’t want it to end. I wanted it to continuously go on a loop, to never finish until book 2 is coming out, BECAUSE BOOK 2 CANNOT COME QUICKLY ENOUGH!
This book has everything, multiple realms, witchy vibes, witchy women(because they are actual witches in an order), slow-burn, friendship, sapphic themes, love, betrayal, family ties, multiple POVs, it’s set in London, and also an alternate realm called Sìdhe, I loved every second of it. I feel so lucky to get to read an author’s debut novel and for it to be this good, I hope this is the next ACOTAR genuinely, I loved it so much. I think deep down I knew it would end on a massive cliffhanger, but I just wanted to keep on going.
This is a book for those who feel unexceptional, who feel they are not strong enough, who feel they are looked over, it’s for all of us who feel like we keep f****ing up. It’s a reminder that things do work out, though I don’t know if I can get over Kayla (yet)🤍✨ I am ready for it to become my entire personality now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh. My. God. The plot twist? And the ending?!
I had the honour of reading the book before it was published, and I’m so grateful. It was such a great story with wonderful world building! And a really cool concept. The details were immaculate and it’s crazy how this is Jades debut book?!
Order & Blood is a great book for anyone who loves urbanfantasy and adventure, witches, different realms and creatures, amazing world building and a growing slow burn romance.
The book follows Annie, a not so extraordinary witch, who follows in her family’s footsteps to become an exorcist in the Order. Weird things start to happen and Annie is forced outside of her comfortable and safe bubble to try to help.
Annie is such an amazing character, she isn’t perfect or extraordinary (as mentioned earlier) in the way it’s expected of her. But she is not short of greatness and is talent in her own way! I also found I really enjoyed the other characters in the book, there was depth to them.
What an adventure!! Love how the author wrote about ancient and supernatural creatures from across the ages. Gods and goddesses from different religions, myths and folklore. A famous evil witch hunter is mentioned and the blood countess is a character. Favorite characters are Rune and Kayla with their charismatic personalities. This author used such unique pieces of history that just blew me away. The tarot card references used as chapter headings is genius. The ending left everything unanswered, which is why I gave it 4 stars. Many plot holes instead of cliffhangers. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.
What a story. Despite coming from a powerful line of witches, there's nothing extraordinary about Annie Dean. She's just a witch trying to gain her exorcist license (think Supernatural hunter), but keeps failing. Then one day, a mission reveals a larger plot threatening everything Annie knows. The lore was fantastic (incorporating real historical figures and events), the characters were solid, and the storyline had me hooked. The ending is a cliffhanger with everything still up in the air, but, it is only book one. Definitely recommend for fans of urban fantasy like The Mortal Instruments series and Supernatural.
I got a very late start to reading this (sorry Jade 😭) as I had issues getting into my email to receive the ARC copy, and then life kinda got in the way of reading… BUT I finally finished it and I can’t believe how good it is!! If you’re a fan of shows like Supernatural, Buffy, Charmed, etc you’re going to love this book. Annie is such a relatable character, and I just adore her. The creatures in this story are so interesting, and the way Jade is able to take from history and weave it into her own story, and own world is truly amazing. 10/10 will read again and I cannot WAIT for book two in the series!!
An absolutely incredible read — each chapter was gripping, the scene setting was vivid and all characters are well formed and given the time they needed for you to get to know them. I loved the level of detail and back story lovingly applied throughout and how historical figures are threaded through the narrative. I would 100% recommend this book, particularly to lovers of fantasy, but even if it’s not your usual genre, you’ll love it! I cannot wait for the next book, the cliffhanger has me in a chokehold!
What to say about this book (which I was lucky enough to get an arc copy of)
It was a slow start, but I loved the characters from the beginning and once it properly got going I loved it! I am left with so many questions that need answering so I'll be patiently waiting for the next one!
This book has magic, mystery and all of the mythical and supernatural creatures you could need. Set in modern London it's a lovely mix of worlds.
Order & Blood is a great read for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural. It follows a team who hunt supernatural creatures, with a touch of magic woven through the story. It’s got that comforting, familiar feel — like coming home to something you love. I absolutely adored this book and couldn’t put it down. The ending hits hard with a massive cliffhanger, and now I’m counting the days until the next one!
I lucky enough to get ARC of this book and what a great story, with twist and more twist and oh boy what an ending that i didn’t see coming. Excellent writting, I so can’t wait for book two
Annie Dean: Order & Blood - No Spoilers ⭐ Rating: 4.5 (rounded up to 5!) Genre: Fantasy | Romance
🔥 What a fantastic debut from indie author Jade Lamb! 🔥
In a world of magic, secret societies and supernatural creatures, our FMC, Annie, is a witch who feels totally useless, trying (and failing) to follow in her families footsteps to become an exorcist.
The book has a dark and gritty vibe but still manages to bring some fun, light-hearted moments, especially thanks to some amazing side characters. Kayla, being my absolute favourite, who often says the most hilarious thing at the most inappropriate time - I love her! 😍
Why you should read it! This book is perfect for any fantasy lover and has it all:
🧙♀️ Supernatural creatures & folklore galore 🤫 Family Secrets 🫢 Secret societies 🏰 Different realms 🤗 Found family ❤️ Slow burn romance 😭 Betrayals 🤯 Plot Twists
The world-building is immersive but not overwhelming, making it an easy yet gripping read. And that CLIFFHANGER—I need Book 2 like yesterday!
In book 2, I'm looking forward to delving more into the side characters, exploring the other realm, revenge (there has to be some!), and finding out WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!
Annie Dean: Order & Blood is a captivating urban fantasy that blends rich folklore, supernatural intrigue, and compelling characters.
Annie, a witch striving to become a licensed exorcist, finds herself entangled in a larger conspiracy that threatens not just her world but others as well. The novel's incorporation of real historical figures and mythical creatures adds depth and excitement.
With a relatable protagonist, a diverse cast, and a plot full of twists and turns, this book is a must read for fans of Supernatural, Buffy, and Charmed.
The first half of the story gave me London crime drama with a flare of paranormal. The switch up between the first half of the book and the second half is what saved the book for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the second half of the book. The paranomal fantasty vibes really worked with the characters. I understand this was a debut novel novel and that it was a character/back story and world building situation, its why I pushed through the first half of the book and was rewarded with that ending.