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The Bloody and the Damned
An assassin with outlawed, magical abilities will do anything to get their kidnapped sisters back in this dystopic-fantasy standalone, perfect for fans of Arcane and Iron Widow.
Mercy has no place here.
On Trinity, where the privileged live in the skies and the rest fight for water below, you do what you can to survive.
18-year-old Val knows this better than anyone. They’ve sacrificed everything to provide for their younger sisters. Using their outlawed teleportation powers, they've become the most infamous assassin-for-hire on Trinity, known as the Butcher.
No one should be able to trace the Butcher to Val. But when a gang retaliates by kidnapping Val's sisters and killing Dani, Val's only friend, it means that someone has to know the truth.
Desperate and completely alone, Val has no one to turn to but their ex-best friend turned vigilante thief, Orion. He broke their heart, but he owes them.
But as Val fights for the return of their sisters, they start to realize there might be something much bigger at play... something that could upend everything they’ve ever known about Trinity.
Val’s journey will take them from a maximum security prison transport to the headquarters of the most powerful gang on Trinity, and all the way to the Gate of Heaven. Each more heavily guarded than the last.
Good thing the Butcher has never blinked at an extra casualty.
Mercy has no place here.
On Trinity, where the privileged live in the skies and the rest fight for water below, you do what you can to survive.
18-year-old Val knows this better than anyone. They’ve sacrificed everything to provide for their younger sisters. Using their outlawed teleportation powers, they've become the most infamous assassin-for-hire on Trinity, known as the Butcher.
No one should be able to trace the Butcher to Val. But when a gang retaliates by kidnapping Val's sisters and killing Dani, Val's only friend, it means that someone has to know the truth.
Desperate and completely alone, Val has no one to turn to but their ex-best friend turned vigilante thief, Orion. He broke their heart, but he owes them.
But as Val fights for the return of their sisters, they start to realize there might be something much bigger at play... something that could upend everything they’ve ever known about Trinity.
Val’s journey will take them from a maximum security prison transport to the headquarters of the most powerful gang on Trinity, and all the way to the Gate of Heaven. Each more heavily guarded than the last.
Good thing the Butcher has never blinked at an extra casualty.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2026
About the author
Becca Coffindaffer
1 book58 followersBecca Coffindaffer (they/any) grew up on Star Wars, Star Trek, fantastical movies and even more fantastical books. They waited a long time for their secret elemental powers to develop, and in the interim, they started writing stories about magic and politics, spaceships, far-off worlds, and people walking away from explosions in slow motion. These days they live in Kansas with their family, surrounded by a lot of books and a lot of tabletop games and a very spoiled dog. They’re the author of the CROWNCHASERS duology and the upcoming THE BLOODY AND THE DAMNED, as well as short stories in MERMAIDS NEVER DROWN and CRITICAL ROLE: STORIES UNTOLD.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
July 4, 2026
Okay so, the Crownchasers duology was absolutely amazing, so I was hoping The Bloody and the Damned would follow a similar pattern, but that wasn't entirely the case.
The story struggled to keep my attention, maybe because of the audiobook, maybe not. Then again, I had no issues with the previously mentioned series on audio so...I guess this one just didn't work for me for one reason or another.
I am open to giving it another read, with my own two eyes, at some point in the future. Maybe I'll like it better then.
But yeah, so much of this book was tell, rather than show, I didn't feel a deep connection to the characters (I liked them, but nothing more than that), the worldbuilding we got was good, but I wanted more of it, and the ending was rushed.
The pacing was a bit slower at the start, but not for too long. I ended up liking that aspect of The Bloody and the Damned the most, but I still wish this too was a duology, so more things could be fleshed out. There were so many important themes tackled here that I don't feel were used to their fullest potential because of the length.
I think this would work better for someone younger, who's just getting into scifi & dystopian literature, but feel free to read it regardless, this author deserves much more recognition.
The story struggled to keep my attention, maybe because of the audiobook, maybe not. Then again, I had no issues with the previously mentioned series on audio so...I guess this one just didn't work for me for one reason or another.
I am open to giving it another read, with my own two eyes, at some point in the future. Maybe I'll like it better then.
But yeah, so much of this book was tell, rather than show, I didn't feel a deep connection to the characters (I liked them, but nothing more than that), the worldbuilding we got was good, but I wanted more of it, and the ending was rushed.
The pacing was a bit slower at the start, but not for too long. I ended up liking that aspect of The Bloody and the Damned the most, but I still wish this too was a duology, so more things could be fleshed out. There were so many important themes tackled here that I don't feel were used to their fullest potential because of the length.
I think this would work better for someone younger, who's just getting into scifi & dystopian literature, but feel free to read it regardless, this author deserves much more recognition.
Read
July 29, 2025NOTES (July 29, 2025): This will be published under the name Becca Coffindaffer instead of Rebecca Coffindaffer, so it currently is on both author pages. Since it's now available on NetGalley and Edelweiss, I wanted to add some content warnings here:
The Bloody and the Damned is set in a secondary dystopian fantasy world and includes content that may be triggering for some readers. The following are depicted on-page: death, violence, murder, blood, death/loss of parent(s), injury/injury details, grief, knives, gun violence, law enforcement abuse, propaganda, kidnapping, explosions, classism and resource inequality, water restriction, and environmental destruction. It also includes themes of religious trauma, prosperity gospel, and climate change. Please proceed at your own discretion and take care of yourselves.
-----------
EDIT (3/2024): Back at edits for this book, and man, I really hope y'all like your worldbuilding weird and your enby MCs stabby and full of rage.
-----------
we're a long way out from the release date still, but this book will (hopefully) be for you if you like:
- ace, gray-romantic, nonbinary MCs
- the power of sibling bonds
- queer found family
- cinnamon roll love interests
- knife-to-the-throat love interests
- why-choose, love-them-both, but make it ace
- science fantasy genre mashups
- morally gray assassins who do a lot of on-page assassinating
it's one-part Arcane, one-part Firefly, and one-part the "Show Yourself" song from Frozen 2.
The Bloody and the Damned is set in a secondary dystopian fantasy world and includes content that may be triggering for some readers. The following are depicted on-page: death, violence, murder, blood, death/loss of parent(s), injury/injury details, grief, knives, gun violence, law enforcement abuse, propaganda, kidnapping, explosions, classism and resource inequality, water restriction, and environmental destruction. It also includes themes of religious trauma, prosperity gospel, and climate change. Please proceed at your own discretion and take care of yourselves.
-----------
EDIT (3/2024): Back at edits for this book, and man, I really hope y'all like your worldbuilding weird and your enby MCs stabby and full of rage.
-----------
we're a long way out from the release date still, but this book will (hopefully) be for you if you like:
- ace, gray-romantic, nonbinary MCs
- the power of sibling bonds
- queer found family
- cinnamon roll love interests
- knife-to-the-throat love interests
- why-choose, love-them-both, but make it ace
- science fantasy genre mashups
- morally gray assassins who do a lot of on-page assassinating
it's one-part Arcane, one-part Firefly, and one-part the "Show Yourself" song from Frozen 2.
January 19, 2026
I loved Coffindaffer’s last series, Crownchasers, but I think this one just needed more worldbuilding. In a world without plants and animals (to the point where the characters don’t even know the word for animal when they meet one??), I had no idea what the people ate to have any kind of nutrition; the only food we saw the whole book was some expired abandoned hard tack. I wanted to see what the difference in society was if you were a skydweller rather than a duster; I wanted to understand what daily life was like for people.
It felt like the climate change portion of the story came on as a brief bit of “telling” at the very end rather than as a force through the book. Indeed, most of our greater worldbuilding was told instead of shown.
The biggest strength in the story comes from the relationships between Val and Orion and Dani, with Atlas and Liren also (the sisters were kind of absent and stood more for a motivating force than characters in their own right).
I know Coffindaffer can give us more, so I suppose I was just a little disappointed to miss the mark.
{Thank you Roaring Brook Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
It felt like the climate change portion of the story came on as a brief bit of “telling” at the very end rather than as a force through the book. Indeed, most of our greater worldbuilding was told instead of shown.
The biggest strength in the story comes from the relationships between Val and Orion and Dani, with Atlas and Liren also (the sisters were kind of absent and stood more for a motivating force than characters in their own right).
I know Coffindaffer can give us more, so I suppose I was just a little disappointed to miss the mark.
{Thank you Roaring Brook Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
October 6, 2025
4/5, thank you NetGalley and Becca for the ARC!
I really liked this book! I haven't read any of the authors other books but best believe that they are now on my TBR. The Bloody and the Damned had me hooked from the beginning and I would've read it in one sitting if life didn't get in the way. The relationship between Val and her sisters - Halle and Kelda - was well written and made her quest to get them back after they were kidnapped all the more compelling. As the book went on there was a bit of a found family aspect that I really loved as Val collected more people in their group for their quest.
No spoilers but the ending had me really mad! It fit really well with the story and with Val's character arc but I wanted more! I believe this is a standalone and it is wrapped up nicely but I would love to read other books set in this universe. The world building was done really well and could definitely support other books in the same setting. The author also did a great job with a bit of foreshadowing of the ending with little details that were peppered in with the world building.
I think that Val's character growth could've been a bit more fleshed out. She had to learn that she couldn't do everything herself and to trust those around her but it felt a bit rushed. Another reviewer equated this book to 1.5 books and I am inclined to agree. The major situation was solved around the 60% or 70% mark and a second situation was brought forward. While they were related and the story flowed really well, the second situation felt slightly rushed and I wished that the book was a little longer to accommodate it more. Both of these things are really minor and didn't detract from my joy of reading this book!
I really liked this book! I haven't read any of the authors other books but best believe that they are now on my TBR. The Bloody and the Damned had me hooked from the beginning and I would've read it in one sitting if life didn't get in the way. The relationship between Val and her sisters - Halle and Kelda - was well written and made her quest to get them back after they were kidnapped all the more compelling. As the book went on there was a bit of a found family aspect that I really loved as Val collected more people in their group for their quest.
No spoilers but the ending had me really mad! It fit really well with the story and with Val's character arc but I wanted more! I believe this is a standalone and it is wrapped up nicely but I would love to read other books set in this universe. The world building was done really well and could definitely support other books in the same setting. The author also did a great job with a bit of foreshadowing of the ending with little details that were peppered in with the world building.
I think that Val's character growth could've been a bit more fleshed out. She had to learn that she couldn't do everything herself and to trust those around her but it felt a bit rushed. Another reviewer equated this book to 1.5 books and I am inclined to agree. The major situation was solved around the 60% or 70% mark and a second situation was brought forward. While they were related and the story flowed really well, the second situation felt slightly rushed and I wished that the book was a little longer to accommodate it more. Both of these things are really minor and didn't detract from my joy of reading this book!
Want to Read
March 23, 2026NEW REBECCA COFFINDAFFER, I REPEAT,
NEW REBECCA COFFINDAFFER, THIS IS NOT A DRILL
And there's a nonbinary protagonist
NEW REBECCA COFFINDAFFER, THIS IS NOT A DRILL
And there's a nonbinary protagonist
Read
January 7, 20263 MONTHS TO GO!!!
Ready for a standalone dystopian fantasy with:
- assassins and outlaws
- a queer, why-choose love triangle
- the power of sibling bonds in a broken world
- fueled by rage and stabbing
- for fans of Arcane and Mad Max: Fury Road
------
The Bloody and the Damned is now available to request on both NetGalley and Edelweiss! Since this marks the beginning of readers starting to access copies of this book, I wanted to go ahead and add content warnings here, although they should appear in the book as well:
The Bloody and the Damned is set in a secondary dystopian fantasy world and includes content that may be triggering for some readers. The following are depicted on-page: death, violence, murder, blood, death/loss of parent(s), injury/injury details, grief, knives, gun violence, law enforcement abuse, propaganda, kidnapping, explosions, classism and resource inequality, water restriction, and environmental destruction. It also includes themes of religious trauma, prosperity gospel, and climate change. Please proceed at your own discretion and take care of yourselves.
Ready for a standalone dystopian fantasy with:
- assassins and outlaws
- a queer, why-choose love triangle
- the power of sibling bonds in a broken world
- fueled by rage and stabbing
- for fans of Arcane and Mad Max: Fury Road
------
The Bloody and the Damned is now available to request on both NetGalley and Edelweiss! Since this marks the beginning of readers starting to access copies of this book, I wanted to go ahead and add content warnings here, although they should appear in the book as well:
The Bloody and the Damned is set in a secondary dystopian fantasy world and includes content that may be triggering for some readers. The following are depicted on-page: death, violence, murder, blood, death/loss of parent(s), injury/injury details, grief, knives, gun violence, law enforcement abuse, propaganda, kidnapping, explosions, classism and resource inequality, water restriction, and environmental destruction. It also includes themes of religious trauma, prosperity gospel, and climate change. Please proceed at your own discretion and take care of yourselves.
April 12, 2026
Val is a young assassin-for-hire with secret teleportation abilities, doing whatever it takes to keep their younger sisters alive in a world where the privileged live in the sky and everyone else fights over water below. When someone figures out who the Butcher really is and takes those sisters as leverage, Val has no one to turn to but the ex-best friend and now infamous gold-hearted thief whose heart they broke.
What a hook into this story! I was grabbed immediately and honestly never really let go.
This world is fascinating and genuinely unique. The classism and resource inequality running through everything feels uncomfortably real, and the threads of religious trauma woven into the power structures add this extra layer that I found absolutely compelling. I have complex feelings about religion, so this hit hard for me. The climate change backdrop ties it all together in a way that never feels preachy. It shows the consequences of the choices those in power made... and it's the people without power that actually have to deal with them. The Archangels are terrifying and such a cool concept.
But what I loved most were the characters. Obviously. As always.
Val is "broken" and knows it, keeps love at arm's length because they don't feel they deserve it, and is exactly the kind of imperfect, desperate protagonist I will follow anywhere. Dani, a brilliant charmer who tries her best to make up for their choices, and I won't spoil anything there. And Orion, the idealistic rebel thief with a heart of gold trying to herd these two feral cat-like women toward something resembling a plan, is such a good foil. And the found family that builds through all of this chaos? I hung onto every single word of it. I would do anything for this crew.
Things escalate quickly and I don't want to spoil where it goes, but I was not bored for a single second. Even through the bittersweet end.
Just loved this one so much. I will read anything this author does and plan to dive into their backlog immediately.
Thank you so much to Colored Pages Booktours, Fierce Reads, and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Representation: Nonbinary (own voice), LGBQTIA+ (queer, why-choose love triangle and make it ace)
Comps: Arcane, Iron Widow, Firefly, Mad Max
What a hook into this story! I was grabbed immediately and honestly never really let go.
This world is fascinating and genuinely unique. The classism and resource inequality running through everything feels uncomfortably real, and the threads of religious trauma woven into the power structures add this extra layer that I found absolutely compelling. I have complex feelings about religion, so this hit hard for me. The climate change backdrop ties it all together in a way that never feels preachy. It shows the consequences of the choices those in power made... and it's the people without power that actually have to deal with them. The Archangels are terrifying and such a cool concept.
But what I loved most were the characters. Obviously. As always.
Val is "broken" and knows it, keeps love at arm's length because they don't feel they deserve it, and is exactly the kind of imperfect, desperate protagonist I will follow anywhere. Dani, a brilliant charmer who tries her best to make up for their choices, and I won't spoil anything there. And Orion, the idealistic rebel thief with a heart of gold trying to herd these two feral cat-like women toward something resembling a plan, is such a good foil. And the found family that builds through all of this chaos? I hung onto every single word of it. I would do anything for this crew.
Things escalate quickly and I don't want to spoil where it goes, but I was not bored for a single second. Even through the bittersweet end.
Just loved this one so much. I will read anything this author does and plan to dive into their backlog immediately.
Thank you so much to Colored Pages Booktours, Fierce Reads, and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Representation: Nonbinary (own voice), LGBQTIA+ (queer, why-choose love triangle and make it ace)
Comps: Arcane, Iron Widow, Firefly, Mad Max
May 5, 2026
2026 is turning out to be the year of the dystopian novel and I’m pleased to say that THE BLOODY AND THE DAMNED is another solid entry to add to that list. Interesting worldbuilding and fantastic characters combine to make this one a book I couldn’t put down. I absolutely loved our main character, Val, and the lengths they would go through to save their sisters. I felt everything right with them as they set out on their quest, and my heart broke right alongside theirs in places. I’m not sure what I loved more — the harsh, unforgiving world, or the fact that this book made me shed a tear. I don’t cry very often with books these days, so that deserves bonus points.
*Thanks to the publisher and MTMC Tours for the review copy.
*Thanks to the publisher and MTMC Tours for the review copy.
August 10, 2025
"Unmaking seasons. Every quite, stable period in your life would be followed a season of unmasking, where upheaval and chaos and change would puch at your edges and force you to grow"
Valene (Val) is just a girl trying to survive and make enough paper to allow her sisters a better life by becoming the butcher. When everything is taken from her.
The Bloody and the Damned is a well written book that had clear language and was easy to understand. However, the world building was a bit difficult for me to fully grasp and I found myself constantly going back to review the details.
It was hard for me to fall in love with the other characters because Val's relationship with them were not as personable. Val would keep them at arms lengths to protect them, but it also made it hard for me to care about them because if Val didn't how can I?
Valene's character did not show as much character growth as I was hoping for. Only in the end did she show she did not have to do everything by herself.
Valene (Val) is just a girl trying to survive and make enough paper to allow her sisters a better life by becoming the butcher. When everything is taken from her.
The Bloody and the Damned is a well written book that had clear language and was easy to understand. However, the world building was a bit difficult for me to fully grasp and I found myself constantly going back to review the details.
It was hard for me to fall in love with the other characters because Val's relationship with them were not as personable. Val would keep them at arms lengths to protect them, but it also made it hard for me to care about them because if Val didn't how can I?
Valene's character did not show as much character growth as I was hoping for. Only in the end did she show she did not have to do everything by herself.
March 10, 2026
This is a 4.50 for me. This was a solid 4.25 for most of the book but those last couple of chapters got me really teary eyed so it got a bump from me. I think this book hit the mark as a dystopian science fiction and the world and issues at play were easy to understand and the plot was well paced. There was a lot of action to keep you engaged with a couple different types of heists as well as rescues & kidnappings, as well as you become emotionally invested in the rescuing of Val's sisters. So, the book was very entertaining and easy to read. I do want to mention in a world of duologies, trilogies and long series this is a standalone, but I appreciated that and I think the story tied up the loose ends really well that I am not left needing a sequel. I do think there could be an independent standalone in the same world that can focus on the effects of the end of this book but that would be just a bonus because I think this world is interesting enough that I wouldn't mind revisiting it.
When it comes to our MC Val, I really liked them. They were just trying to not only survive themselves but also make sure their sisters not just survived but didn't have to worry by any means necessary even if it means using their talents to become the Butcher. A for hire assassin that mainly worked for the mafia like organization running the underground of this area. The way they do this is by using a special ability that they have to keep hidden from everyone because if anyone were to find out about their ability it would mark them as a saint and there would be a man hunt to find them and take them from their family and to be separated from their sisters which is the last thing Val would want. This book is very much about the bonds and lengths you will go for family, and it is really only Val's focus in life. So, while on one hand you love Val for their bond with their siblings that did make them a little one note.
Overall, this was a straightforward, easy to understand and enjoy book that fit the mark that it was trying to hit, and I think would be a really good read for its targeted YA audience but adults as well who enjoy YA books. This is the first book I have read by this author, and I am intrigued to see what else they have put out.
----
This book is about Val who lives on Trinity which is a world of metal where the privileged live in the skies while the duster's live on the ground below trying to survive doing whatever they can for their next sip of water. Val like so many other dusters know this struggle well and they have dedicated their life to providing for their younger's sisters sacrificing everything for them and their wellbeing. The way they have done this is by becoming the Buter an assassin for hire that has become successful due to their high rate of completion. The reason they are able to complete the jobs so well is that they have the magical ability of teleportation that marks them as a saint and if anyone were to find out would mean that they would be taken. But when a routine mission goes sideways where a gang leader is killed the connection between Val and the Buter is found out and their sisters are kidnapped in retaliation. Desperate and unsure who to trust Val turns to their childhood best friend turned vigilante thief who owes them. But as they work together to rescue Val's sisters, a conspiracy about Trinity will be revealed that show them that everything they know is a lie. And as each bloody step gets them closer to the truth and the fabled Gate of Heaven, they will have to rely on the Butcher to do what the Butcher does best and spill a little blood.
I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When it comes to our MC Val, I really liked them. They were just trying to not only survive themselves but also make sure their sisters not just survived but didn't have to worry by any means necessary even if it means using their talents to become the Butcher. A for hire assassin that mainly worked for the mafia like organization running the underground of this area. The way they do this is by using a special ability that they have to keep hidden from everyone because if anyone were to find out about their ability it would mark them as a saint and there would be a man hunt to find them and take them from their family and to be separated from their sisters which is the last thing Val would want. This book is very much about the bonds and lengths you will go for family, and it is really only Val's focus in life. So, while on one hand you love Val for their bond with their siblings that did make them a little one note.
Overall, this was a straightforward, easy to understand and enjoy book that fit the mark that it was trying to hit, and I think would be a really good read for its targeted YA audience but adults as well who enjoy YA books. This is the first book I have read by this author, and I am intrigued to see what else they have put out.
----
This book is about Val who lives on Trinity which is a world of metal where the privileged live in the skies while the duster's live on the ground below trying to survive doing whatever they can for their next sip of water. Val like so many other dusters know this struggle well and they have dedicated their life to providing for their younger's sisters sacrificing everything for them and their wellbeing. The way they have done this is by becoming the Buter an assassin for hire that has become successful due to their high rate of completion. The reason they are able to complete the jobs so well is that they have the magical ability of teleportation that marks them as a saint and if anyone were to find out would mean that they would be taken. But when a routine mission goes sideways where a gang leader is killed the connection between Val and the Buter is found out and their sisters are kidnapped in retaliation. Desperate and unsure who to trust Val turns to their childhood best friend turned vigilante thief who owes them. But as they work together to rescue Val's sisters, a conspiracy about Trinity will be revealed that show them that everything they know is a lie. And as each bloody step gets them closer to the truth and the fabled Gate of Heaven, they will have to rely on the Butcher to do what the Butcher does best and spill a little blood.
I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2026
3.5✨️
a good YA dystopia for sure, similar to iron widow like the author states. it is a standalone and I do wish it was just a bit longer or maybe a small duology. we get so much info in one go its almost overwhelming
a good YA dystopia for sure, similar to iron widow like the author states. it is a standalone and I do wish it was just a bit longer or maybe a small duology. we get so much info in one go its almost overwhelming
December 4, 2025
The Bloody and the Damned by Becca Coffinsaffer is a high stakes dystopic adventure set on a world where hope feels like a needle in a haystack.
Would you become the villain to provide for those you hold dear, would you become the hero and risk it all to save them, giving up yourself in the process?
I really enjoyed this book and it was very engaging from the beginning.
I enjoyed the worldbuilding, but did feel that some of it was confusing but could have just been more indepth or smoothed out.
The characters are interesting, and inloved every interaction they had with our protagonist.
I however didn't know that Val was nonbinary until I came here to the reviews (this could have been something I overlooked in my haste to read what happens next), but by the way the tropes are listed, it feels as if maybe that's something not easily overlooked. *Also all the romance tropes emphasized make it seem like the actual romance was lacking*
I wish the ending and more backstory into the world, the ongoings at the gate, and maybe Trinity's heart had been more indepth or longer. I didn't dislike the ending at all, but kinda just wanted more, it felt maybe a bit rushed.*I did also cry*
Was a great solo book, but I would REALLY love more stories in this universe.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Would you become the villain to provide for those you hold dear, would you become the hero and risk it all to save them, giving up yourself in the process?
I really enjoyed this book and it was very engaging from the beginning.
I enjoyed the worldbuilding, but did feel that some of it was confusing but could have just been more indepth or smoothed out.
The characters are interesting, and inloved every interaction they had with our protagonist.
I however didn't know that Val was nonbinary until I came here to the reviews (this could have been something I overlooked in my haste to read what happens next), but by the way the tropes are listed, it feels as if maybe that's something not easily overlooked. *Also all the romance tropes emphasized make it seem like the actual romance was lacking*
I wish the ending and more backstory into the world, the ongoings at the gate, and maybe Trinity's heart had been more indepth or longer. I didn't dislike the ending at all, but kinda just wanted more, it felt maybe a bit rushed.*I did also cry*
Was a great solo book, but I would REALLY love more stories in this universe.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the opportunity to read this ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2026
The Bloody and the Damned is an interesting twist on an alternate world - possibly a colony world. The founders, the original people to arrive on this world discover a unique power source, which they name naptha, and set up an economy which is based on the production and distribution of it. In the process, they create an ecological disaster, as well as an unequal societal structure. It’s an interesting premise, although the world building could have been more detailed; the founders called themselves Heralds, and the children who are able to access the naptha on a personal level saints; the mechanical beings that enforce the law are called Archangels. But at no point in the story is there any indication of a religion; only the quotes of a pseudo-historical religious text at the chapter headings references such a religion. The same story could have been written without the religious terms, which would make the story more universal.
Still, it’s an interesting premise. The saints manifest various powers in childhood, and are taken away to serve the planet Trinity - all except one child, Valene Bruinn, who manages to keep her power of phasing hidden, and use it for an unsanctioned purpose: to become a killer for hire, known only as the Butcher. In the course of a job as the Butcher, she becomes caught up in a series of events that leads to the discovery of the original purpose of the powers of the saints, and with that, the possibility of saving the world from the negative consequences of the production and use of naptha.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Still, it’s an interesting premise. The saints manifest various powers in childhood, and are taken away to serve the planet Trinity - all except one child, Valene Bruinn, who manages to keep her power of phasing hidden, and use it for an unsanctioned purpose: to become a killer for hire, known only as the Butcher. In the course of a job as the Butcher, she becomes caught up in a series of events that leads to the discovery of the original purpose of the powers of the saints, and with that, the possibility of saving the world from the negative consequences of the production and use of naptha.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 14, 2026
"Content warning: The Bloody and the Damned is set in a secondary dystopian fantasy world and includes content that may be triggering for some readers. The following are depicted on-page: death, violence, murder, blood, death/loss of parent(s), injury/injury details, grief, knives, gun violence, law enforcement abuse, propaganda, kidnapping, explosions, classism and resource inequality, water restriction, and environmental destruction. It also includes themes of religious trauma, prosperity gospel, and climate change. Please proceed at your own discretion and take care of yourselves."
Whew, this title was not joking, it sure was bloody, and this world felt pretty much damned! Dark, indeed, friends, be sure to heed the warnings! From the start, I was invested in Val's story. (Also I loved their name- Valene, I want to name something that some day!) They were fiercely protective of their sisters, and having lost both parents, were kind of the de facto caretaker in their family. It's a lot, but how does Val put food on the table? Well, all the murder, you see! Val's got a lot of secrets, but the one they keep from everyone is that they are The Butcher, which is 100% as stabby as it sounds. Maybe more, really. Val kills, and they do it well, mostly because they have a special ability to... well, it's kind of teleporting, but more like scattering their molecules was how I imagined it. Anyway, a lot of stuff goes awry and Val finds themself on the run- and in search of their now-kidnapped sisters. They enlist the help from former bestie Orion and former sidekick-turned enemy Dani.
And the whole book is thrilling, because the stakes are very high (plus, you can tell that the author is not one to shy away from brutality, so the stakes stay high throughout). I loved the group that Val ends up on the lam with- it is such a delightful mix of folks that I highly enjoyed. Their interactions broke up the darkness too, which I loved. I was very entertained throughout, and I loved that there were absolutely secrets we the reader are meant to unfurl about the world as the story progresses. I will say, I do wish we'd gotten to know a bit more about the world, though I am glad that we figure out some of it! The ending has me feeling some mixed emotions, but I will say that it certainly fits the story, and gives a satisfying conclusion. If you have read the story, let me know what you think! And if you haven't, now's a good time to do so!
Bottom Line: It's a brutal, dark world that Val lives in, and I enjoyed getting to travel it with them and their family- both blood and found.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
May 23, 2026
*The Bloody and the Damned* — Review
**Rating:** 3 Stars
Becca Coffindaffer has created an incredibly immersive, cutthroat world in *The Bloody and the Damned*. The action sequences are sharp, fast-paced, and cinematic, perfectly complementing the gritty, high-stakes atmosphere of Trinity. From the dizzying heights of the upper tier to the brutal survival of the ground, the worldbuilding completely pulls you in.
Val is a phenomenal main character—they reminded me of Naoe from *Assassin's Creed Shadows*, operating with that same fierce, stealthy independence on a deeply personal mission. Because of this strong individual drive, I found myself wishing the story had leaned entirely into its stellar found family dynamics rather than trying to force a romantic interest into the mix.
Ultimately, the phenomenal worldbuilding and gripping action still make this a standout dystopian fantasy. It is a strong, fast-paced ride that keeps you hooked, even if the romantic elements didn't quite land.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Fierce Reads for the gifted copy.
June 17, 2026
this should have been the perfect book at it fell flat HARD. there was one scene toward the end that hit great, but the rest of the ending was horribly bungled.
April 24, 2026
Oh. My. Goodness. I don't even know where to begin. The insane world-building? The characters I want to arm-wrestle and hug? The representation that is so well-crafted? The way that society and its norms are flipped and ripped apart? SO GOOD.
May 3, 2026
Loved this book! The fight scenes were awesome to read and the story went in a direction I wasn’t expecting. Really enjoyed the twist and the ending was so satisfying as it tied up everything so well.
October 17, 2025
As always with books with lengthy trigger warnings such as those disclosed in the front of The Bloody and the Damned... please read through the trigger warnings before you decide to plunge headfirst into novels! You matter.
Mercy has no place here.
You either live in the skies in comfort, or you do what you have to below for your basic needs such as water or food.
At the age of 18, Val knows this better than anyone. She has built another personality, another side of herself that is only known as the Butcher... the most infamous assassin-for-hire on Trinity...
An identity that no one should be able to trace... and yet...
When a job goes terribly wrong, and her sisters are kidnapped... she must count on unlikely allies of her past... and as they fight for her sisters...they may discover something that might uproot all that they know about Trinity.
There were parts that made me gasp, there were parts that had me on the edge of my seat, and if I had not been trying to read two other novels at the same time, I am sure that I would've stayed up all night and devoured this until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. Even then, I was thoroughly blown away by Becca's writing from the very first page of The Bloody and the Damned all the way up until the ending of this standalone, and ... omg.... the fact that it ends here... is this an excuse for me to look into Becca's other amazing works... perhaps? ;P
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and the rest of my reviews can be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
Mercy has no place here.
You either live in the skies in comfort, or you do what you have to below for your basic needs such as water or food.
At the age of 18, Val knows this better than anyone. She has built another personality, another side of herself that is only known as the Butcher... the most infamous assassin-for-hire on Trinity...
An identity that no one should be able to trace... and yet...
When a job goes terribly wrong, and her sisters are kidnapped... she must count on unlikely allies of her past... and as they fight for her sisters...they may discover something that might uproot all that they know about Trinity.
There were parts that made me gasp, there were parts that had me on the edge of my seat, and if I had not been trying to read two other novels at the same time, I am sure that I would've stayed up all night and devoured this until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. Even then, I was thoroughly blown away by Becca's writing from the very first page of The Bloody and the Damned all the way up until the ending of this standalone, and ... omg.... the fact that it ends here... is this an excuse for me to look into Becca's other amazing works... perhaps? ;P
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and the rest of my reviews can be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
June 8, 2026
A very unique and original concept for a book. I loved all the characters and the diversity in those characters. The plot was fast paced and the world building was cool too.
August 22, 2025
this book is so exciting i cannot wait to read it. the premise is so promising.
immediately, i really like the first person present tense, makes it very urgent.
i really found the prosperity gospel part compelling, especially during a time where evangelism is very much steeped in human greed. sci fi is truly not my vibe, but i liked how it felt more accessible.
the characters were very interesting and i really loved seeing them develop and be more vulnerable.
immediately, i really like the first person present tense, makes it very urgent.
i really found the prosperity gospel part compelling, especially during a time where evangelism is very much steeped in human greed. sci fi is truly not my vibe, but i liked how it felt more accessible.
the characters were very interesting and i really loved seeing them develop and be more vulnerable.
August 26, 2025
This was stunning, all the way through. It is angry and vicious, and yet there is such an utter kindness at it's center, of coming to understand that you're allowed to want more than just survival. It's an incredible mix of scifi, fantasy, and dystopia. I absolutely love it.
September 27, 2025
Let me be the knife in the dark. I'll gladly use my sharp edges to carge out a space where my sisters are free to be sof, to melt as much as they wish.
4.5 stars/5 stars., thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
First of all, I want to rave about the worldbuilding in this book; in this metal land where water is as precious as gold and treated as such, and angels and Heralds decree a prosperity gospel that decrees that those in the sky are blessed while those Dusters who toil for water rations on the ground are cursed, it still all feels very grounded, and you'll definitely see the reflections of the real world there while still filled with wonder for Val's storm-touched phasing powers and the threat of the Archangels on high.
Speaking of which, from the quote above, you can tell that Val is a very dark protagonist, as befits the title of the book and a teen assassin.
There is nothing Val won't do to keep their sisters safe at the start of the story, but this story is as much about unraveling an ancient conspiracy as it is getting Val to care about more than just survival and their family.
While of course Val's relationship to their sisters is the heart of the story, I also deeply enjoyed their relationship with Orion, their childhood friend who they had a falling out with, but who is now a renown thief and who they need help from to rescue their sisters. The banter and history they share is delicious but also, Orion believes in Val so much.
Now for the parts of the book that take it down half a star: I wasn't a huge fan of Dani, Val's other love interest. She's fine, and she's part of the polycule instead of love triangle, which I appreciate, but still, her relationship with Val never rang as deeply to me as what they shared with Orion. Next, this book probably should have been an adult book instead of a YA novel; the pacing at the last 20% sped up so much and Still, the worldbuilding is so good in this book that I'm willing to overlook that since I couldn't stop reading this once I started.
4.5 stars/5 stars., thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
First of all, I want to rave about the worldbuilding in this book; in this metal land where water is as precious as gold and treated as such, and angels and Heralds decree a prosperity gospel that decrees that those in the sky are blessed while those Dusters who toil for water rations on the ground are cursed, it still all feels very grounded, and you'll definitely see the reflections of the real world there while still filled with wonder for Val's storm-touched phasing powers and the threat of the Archangels on high.
Speaking of which, from the quote above, you can tell that Val is a very dark protagonist, as befits the title of the book and a teen assassin.
I wish I could say I hated being the Butcher, but there was too much freedom in it for me to hate.
There is nothing Val won't do to keep their sisters safe at the start of the story, but this story is as much about unraveling an ancient conspiracy as it is getting Val to care about more than just survival and their family.
While of course Val's relationship to their sisters is the heart of the story, I also deeply enjoyed their relationship with Orion, their childhood friend who they had a falling out with, but who is now a renown thief and who they need help from to rescue their sisters. The banter and history they share is delicious but also, Orion believes in Val so much.
"I'm not a puzzle to solve," I say finally, the words ground out between clenched teeth.
Liren studies me for a moment, head cocked to the side. "Hey, I'm not telling you this to make you feel bad or anything like that. I just think you need to be aware of where he's at. Because he will break himself trying to save you, Valene Bruinn."
Now for the parts of the book that take it down half a star: I wasn't a huge fan of Dani, Val's other love interest. She's fine, and she's part of the polycule instead of love triangle, which I appreciate, but still, her relationship with Val never rang as deeply to me as what they shared with Orion. Next, this book probably should have been an adult book instead of a YA novel; the pacing at the last 20% sped up so much and Still, the worldbuilding is so good in this book that I'm willing to overlook that since I couldn't stop reading this once I started.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Before I begin, for full disclosure I will let you know I won an advanced readers copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. That having been said, this is a fantastic book. It turns out to be much more than the book description says. A young girl named Val is forced to take responsibility for her two younger sisters when her father dies and her mother later withdraws into herself. Val has the ability to phase between places, which is rare, and those who have it are taken away from their homes by the authorities. Val uses her talent to become a highly paid and very successful hitman. When a botched job leads to Val's younger sisters being kidnapped, the story takes a turn.
This is also where the story changes from an interesting, if rather ordinary fantasy adventure set on a dystopian world to something amazing.
The characterization and imagery in the story is top-notch. I did feel odd rooting for a character who commits murder for a living, but she does not do so joyfully. The supporting characters are all fully developed and have stories and issues of their own.
I am surprised that I liked this story so much. I think I am about 4o years older than the target audience of young adults, but the writing is good and the characters and setting come alive. I was kind of hesitant about the book because it is marketed as LGBTQ+, and some of those that I have read have been extremely spicy. This book has little to no spice if you are concerned about that. The LGBTQ+ content is limited to using "they" instead of he or she (which bothers me mainly because of my age and the fact that I am an English teacher (it just sounds wrong to me and grates like nails on a chalkboard--which is a description that also shows my age, lol). There are a few longing glances, but really nothing else in the way of sexual content. Do not let any of the marketing labels scare you away, or else you will miss an outstanding book.
For some reason, I found this book similar to the Poppy War trilogy, probably because both have young, strong, female protagonists. The world building is exquisite as it is in the Poppy War. I enjoyed this book MORE than the Poppy War, because this one ended on a hopeful note. Throughout the story there are unexpected, heartbreaking twists, but the conclusion is buoyant and assured. The writing is confident and descriptive. This definitely one of the best fantasy/science fiction type books I have read in the past few years, and one of those books I wish I had written.
This is also where the story changes from an interesting, if rather ordinary fantasy adventure set on a dystopian world to something amazing.
The characterization and imagery in the story is top-notch. I did feel odd rooting for a character who commits murder for a living, but she does not do so joyfully. The supporting characters are all fully developed and have stories and issues of their own.
I am surprised that I liked this story so much. I think I am about 4o years older than the target audience of young adults, but the writing is good and the characters and setting come alive. I was kind of hesitant about the book because it is marketed as LGBTQ+, and some of those that I have read have been extremely spicy. This book has little to no spice if you are concerned about that. The LGBTQ+ content is limited to using "they" instead of he or she (which bothers me mainly because of my age and the fact that I am an English teacher (it just sounds wrong to me and grates like nails on a chalkboard--which is a description that also shows my age, lol). There are a few longing glances, but really nothing else in the way of sexual content. Do not let any of the marketing labels scare you away, or else you will miss an outstanding book.
For some reason, I found this book similar to the Poppy War trilogy, probably because both have young, strong, female protagonists. The world building is exquisite as it is in the Poppy War. I enjoyed this book MORE than the Poppy War, because this one ended on a hopeful note. Throughout the story there are unexpected, heartbreaking twists, but the conclusion is buoyant and assured. The writing is confident and descriptive. This definitely one of the best fantasy/science fiction type books I have read in the past few years, and one of those books I wish I had written.
July 3, 2026
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.0 of 5
Val is a young assassin-for-hire who is known, quite ominously, as "The Butcher." She has secret teleportation abilities and hides her identity to protect not only herself but her younger sisters, as well. The world of the privileged, those who live in the sky, is brutal to those who live more earth-bound and constantly fight for control of water. But the problem with having a secret as dark as being The Butcher, is keeping the secret. When someone uncovers Val's other identity and uses her sisters as a blackmail tool, Val has to seek out an old friend - a thief whose heart Val once broke - for help.
I had high hopes for this book and the opening third or so were really exciting and a great introduction to the characters and Val's abilities, but the rest of the book really slowed down and became overly complicated in a world that was not being well-defined.
Val as The Butcher is a pretty cool, kick-ass character. But I'm not sure we ever get any background on how or why she is the way she is. Val's work as The Butcher feels disconnected from Val the sister. Of course this is intentional, but the sense is that we're dealing with different stories rather than one connected story. In part this comes from the fact that The Butcher is ruthless and violent (hence the nickname) and Val is clumsy and scattered and the two don't go well together.
I wasn't really clear on what/where this world was. While it's not a story about this world, it's been set here for a reason and our understanding of this world just isn't strong enough for the story. What we do get tends to come in info-dump moments.
That said, I think this will do well with the intended YA market. It's got all the hallmarks of a strong YA book: bad-ass female main character who is misunderstood and who has a lot of responsibilities on her plate. There's an enemies-to-(lovers)friends type of romance, and some bad people get karma.
Ultimately, while this may do well with a select audience, this just wasn't for me, and I really wanted to like it.
Looking for a good book? There are plenty of dystopian YA books on the market and The Bloody and the Damned by Becca Coffindaffer fits nicely into the mold, but doesn't stand out.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Val is a young assassin-for-hire who is known, quite ominously, as "The Butcher." She has secret teleportation abilities and hides her identity to protect not only herself but her younger sisters, as well. The world of the privileged, those who live in the sky, is brutal to those who live more earth-bound and constantly fight for control of water. But the problem with having a secret as dark as being The Butcher, is keeping the secret. When someone uncovers Val's other identity and uses her sisters as a blackmail tool, Val has to seek out an old friend - a thief whose heart Val once broke - for help.
I had high hopes for this book and the opening third or so were really exciting and a great introduction to the characters and Val's abilities, but the rest of the book really slowed down and became overly complicated in a world that was not being well-defined.
Val as The Butcher is a pretty cool, kick-ass character. But I'm not sure we ever get any background on how or why she is the way she is. Val's work as The Butcher feels disconnected from Val the sister. Of course this is intentional, but the sense is that we're dealing with different stories rather than one connected story. In part this comes from the fact that The Butcher is ruthless and violent (hence the nickname) and Val is clumsy and scattered and the two don't go well together.
I wasn't really clear on what/where this world was. While it's not a story about this world, it's been set here for a reason and our understanding of this world just isn't strong enough for the story. What we do get tends to come in info-dump moments.
That said, I think this will do well with the intended YA market. It's got all the hallmarks of a strong YA book: bad-ass female main character who is misunderstood and who has a lot of responsibilities on her plate. There's an enemies-to-(lovers)friends type of romance, and some bad people get karma.
Ultimately, while this may do well with a select audience, this just wasn't for me, and I really wanted to like it.
Looking for a good book? There are plenty of dystopian YA books on the market and The Bloody and the Damned by Becca Coffindaffer fits nicely into the mold, but doesn't stand out.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
i'm actually really surprised by The Bloody and The Damned, i was not expecting to have so much fun with this. It really checks a lot of boxes...action packed, dystopian, unique magic (?) system & political landscape, queer characters...
we're thrown into the action right off the bat, which i really enjoyed & kept me interested from the very beginning. the heart of the story is the relationship between our MC, Val, & their sisters. their bond felt flesh out & real which made the plot even more engaging. Val is a badass assassin who will stop at nothing to get their sisters back after they've been kidnapped..& i mean nothing, they were really out here kicking ass and taking names later, ok.
i liked most of the characters, especially Orion. the way he was so quick to help Val find their sisters even after Orion and Val had fallen out was so sweet? i think Orion was my favorite character & i was really enjoyed the banter between Dani, Orion & Val. the only character i was kind of ehh about was Dani, she was just like there...something bout her i just didn't really like. there is a love triangle situation going on between the three but thankfully it didn't up too much of the story.
it did take me a few chapters to fully grasp the world we're in...like what do you mean everything is made of copper/metal & the privileged live in floating houses in the sky ??? but once i got a full idea of the setting i was here for it.
overall, a really fun read & really well written but i can't help but feel like it was maybe too long? the main plot really gets resolved around the 70-75% mark & then a new issue was introduced & that's where the story lost me towards the end. it all felt kind of rushed & the ending wasn't a satisfying conclusion for me. one other minor issue i had was some of the wording was a little repetitive, for example "blue-white" is used almost 30 times to describe different things (blue white light, blue white illumination, blue white halo etc)
i would still recommend to anyone wanting a ya sci fi dystopian novel, but there is a lot of religious talk so if that's something you don't like maybe proceed with caution.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
we're thrown into the action right off the bat, which i really enjoyed & kept me interested from the very beginning. the heart of the story is the relationship between our MC, Val, & their sisters. their bond felt flesh out & real which made the plot even more engaging. Val is a badass assassin who will stop at nothing to get their sisters back after they've been kidnapped..& i mean nothing, they were really out here kicking ass and taking names later, ok.
i liked most of the characters, especially Orion. the way he was so quick to help Val find their sisters even after Orion and Val had fallen out was so sweet? i think Orion was my favorite character & i was really enjoyed the banter between Dani, Orion & Val. the only character i was kind of ehh about was Dani, she was just like there...something bout her i just didn't really like. there is a love triangle situation going on between the three but thankfully it didn't up too much of the story.
it did take me a few chapters to fully grasp the world we're in...like what do you mean everything is made of copper/metal & the privileged live in floating houses in the sky ??? but once i got a full idea of the setting i was here for it.
overall, a really fun read & really well written but i can't help but feel like it was maybe too long? the main plot really gets resolved around the 70-75% mark & then a new issue was introduced & that's where the story lost me towards the end. it all felt kind of rushed & the ending wasn't a satisfying conclusion for me. one other minor issue i had was some of the wording was a little repetitive, for example "blue-white" is used almost 30 times to describe different things (blue white light, blue white illumination, blue white halo etc)
i would still recommend to anyone wanting a ya sci fi dystopian novel, but there is a lot of religious talk so if that's something you don't like maybe proceed with caution.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
April 7, 2026
I'd like to thank Becca Coffindaffer, NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
Short Description:
The Bloody and the Damned follows 18 year old Val Bruinn, an assassin with forbidden and hidden magical abilities. They fight for their survival and to give their sisters a better and easier life. Until one day a job goes wrong and their sisters get kidnapped in retaliation. They will do whatever it takes to get them back, even if it means unraveling the hierarchy of law and the secrets of Trinity's universe. For fans of Arcane.
Thoughts:
The Bloody and the Damned is such a masterfully crafted layered work. Each characters had so much depth, shown in facial movements, hitches of breath and how they fight for one another throughout the book. The plot was so insanely creative, it is - as I said before, insanely complex and layered. I never wanted to put the book down and when I had to I was dying constantly to pick it back up again. I needed to know what was happening and I was so immersed in this world Coffindaffer has created. The worldbuilding, I want more of it, I want to see more of it, more history, for future, more storylines and points of view. I love the Arcane-esque steampunk wasteland feel to it, the airships and the gangs, and the political systems, the rich vs the poor, all of it. I don't know if there will be a second book, or if this is a standalone but I love this world.
Another thing I love is Val, a nonbinary asexual grey-romantic main character with POLY love interests. The romance is there if you squint, and I was squinting. I loved Val and their childhood best friend together, their bond. They had a feral love interest, and a cinnamon roll love interest. Orion, their childhood friend, reminded me a lot of Ekko from Arcane so I immediately adored him. I loved Val as a character as well, though coming off as a little edgy YA at times there were many quotable moments that prove they really would do anything for those they love without a second thought.
What a great read. I can't wait to grab the published copy to experience more of this books greatness.
Trigger Warnings can be found at the back of the book, listed on StoryGraph or in the authors comment/review on Goodreads.
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
Short Description:
The Bloody and the Damned follows 18 year old Val Bruinn, an assassin with forbidden and hidden magical abilities. They fight for their survival and to give their sisters a better and easier life. Until one day a job goes wrong and their sisters get kidnapped in retaliation. They will do whatever it takes to get them back, even if it means unraveling the hierarchy of law and the secrets of Trinity's universe. For fans of Arcane.
Thoughts:
The Bloody and the Damned is such a masterfully crafted layered work. Each characters had so much depth, shown in facial movements, hitches of breath and how they fight for one another throughout the book. The plot was so insanely creative, it is - as I said before, insanely complex and layered. I never wanted to put the book down and when I had to I was dying constantly to pick it back up again. I needed to know what was happening and I was so immersed in this world Coffindaffer has created. The worldbuilding, I want more of it, I want to see more of it, more history, for future, more storylines and points of view. I love the Arcane-esque steampunk wasteland feel to it, the airships and the gangs, and the political systems, the rich vs the poor, all of it. I don't know if there will be a second book, or if this is a standalone but I love this world.
Another thing I love is Val, a nonbinary asexual grey-romantic main character with POLY love interests. The romance is there if you squint, and I was squinting. I loved Val and their childhood best friend together, their bond. They had a feral love interest, and a cinnamon roll love interest. Orion, their childhood friend, reminded me a lot of Ekko from Arcane so I immediately adored him. I loved Val as a character as well, though coming off as a little edgy YA at times there were many quotable moments that prove they really would do anything for those they love without a second thought.
What a great read. I can't wait to grab the published copy to experience more of this books greatness.
Trigger Warnings can be found at the back of the book, listed on StoryGraph or in the authors comment/review on Goodreads.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan and NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
Coffindaffer’s rip-roaring, high stakes science fiction debut, Crownchasers, found me during COVID lockdown, and I raced through it, reveling in its rollicking action. I eagerly anticipated a new novel from them, but unfortunately the long-awaited THE BLOODY AND THE DAMNED left me feeling underwhelmed.
My main issue with this was that I felt like the emotional notes were all wrong, and I don’t think that it’s just that this is YA. The story moves at a fast clip, but the characters have the tendency to take each event and ratchet up their emotional reactions to it to the extreme, and at the most inopportune/unrealistic moments. Thus, Val and their sisters have family drama screaming matches when they are in the middle of running for their lives, with people chasing after them.
Val is the worst culprit of them all. They are shrill in supposedly intense, tender moments; snarky when the conversation desires emotional sensitivity. I get that Val has had a tragic and difficult life, and is struggling to deal with their decisions and actions. However, with the story focused more on the forward movement of the plot, we miss out on slowed-down opportunities to better understand Val and their motivations.
Secondary characters I also felt were shells of what they could be. Orion was made out to be this charming and devoted childhood best friend/love interest with an unwavering devotion for Val, but their reunion led too quickly to his arbitrary declaration of affections for Val. I would have liked to learn more about him, rather than have his main character trait and motivation be to ingratiate himself with Val. Meanwhile, Val’s cis female love interest, Dani, is just snarky, and (like Orion) inextricably devoted to Val. She had a potentially interesting backstory that was not explored to its fullest.
In THE BLOODY AND THE DAMNED, it felt like Coffindaffer was trying to force readers’ empathy for Val and the other characters, instead of letting it develop organically. A shame, because I otherwise enjoyed the fascinating world they’ve created and the queer rep. I just wished that I could have understood and cheered on the characters more.
Coffindaffer’s rip-roaring, high stakes science fiction debut, Crownchasers, found me during COVID lockdown, and I raced through it, reveling in its rollicking action. I eagerly anticipated a new novel from them, but unfortunately the long-awaited THE BLOODY AND THE DAMNED left me feeling underwhelmed.
My main issue with this was that I felt like the emotional notes were all wrong, and I don’t think that it’s just that this is YA. The story moves at a fast clip, but the characters have the tendency to take each event and ratchet up their emotional reactions to it to the extreme, and at the most inopportune/unrealistic moments. Thus, Val and their sisters have family drama screaming matches when they are in the middle of running for their lives, with people chasing after them.
Val is the worst culprit of them all. They are shrill in supposedly intense, tender moments; snarky when the conversation desires emotional sensitivity. I get that Val has had a tragic and difficult life, and is struggling to deal with their decisions and actions. However, with the story focused more on the forward movement of the plot, we miss out on slowed-down opportunities to better understand Val and their motivations.
Secondary characters I also felt were shells of what they could be. Orion was made out to be this charming and devoted childhood best friend/love interest with an unwavering devotion for Val, but their reunion led too quickly to his arbitrary declaration of affections for Val. I would have liked to learn more about him, rather than have his main character trait and motivation be to ingratiate himself with Val. Meanwhile, Val’s cis female love interest, Dani, is just snarky, and (like Orion) inextricably devoted to Val. She had a potentially interesting backstory that was not explored to its fullest.
In THE BLOODY AND THE DAMNED, it felt like Coffindaffer was trying to force readers’ empathy for Val and the other characters, instead of letting it develop organically. A shame, because I otherwise enjoyed the fascinating world they’ve created and the queer rep. I just wished that I could have understood and cheered on the characters more.
July 5, 2026
I simply devoured this book in about 24 hours. Which is very rare for me! I tend to be a slow burn, rotate between different books, sort of reader but this story had me by the balls pretty early on.
Loved the pacing on the chapters, but did find the third act a bit squeezed. Not terrible, but enough to be noticeable. I did also notice a few small continuity errors, grammar and spelling oopsies. Nothing that detracted too much from my overall enjoyment but I do think this could have shone even brighter with a bit more polish and time to cook, if I may mix metaphors.
While I loved how frustratingly narrowly focused Val could be for most of the book, and the way they learned to take in the broader picture and get higher ambitions, I would have liked to see that process work a little more internally. It was a rather abrupt switch in the internal monologue, after [redacted for spoilers] and while it overall did feel earned, it would have been more satisfying to see them working toward that in the narration.
Loved Dani, loved Lisan. Favorite characters. But as a nonbinary healer myself, I do have my biases. This was incredibly good food re: queer rep, and I adore it for that. Nonbinary, ace spectrum, polyam, bi. Beautiful.
I like that not everything about how the world of Trinity and its song and all was explained. I think it worked for the story, for Val, and for the world Becca built. I would love to see more in this world someday, maybe eventually exploring more of what storm-touched can do and what the heart of Trinity truly is.
Die Hard but make it teen enby after their sisters, steampunk, climatepunk, and with a little dash of dark magical girl and mecha for flavoring. Wonderful worldbuilding choices were made.
I will definitely be seeking out more of Becca Coffindaffer’s work.
Loved the pacing on the chapters, but did find the third act a bit squeezed. Not terrible, but enough to be noticeable. I did also notice a few small continuity errors, grammar and spelling oopsies. Nothing that detracted too much from my overall enjoyment but I do think this could have shone even brighter with a bit more polish and time to cook, if I may mix metaphors.
While I loved how frustratingly narrowly focused Val could be for most of the book, and the way they learned to take in the broader picture and get higher ambitions, I would have liked to see that process work a little more internally. It was a rather abrupt switch in the internal monologue, after [redacted for spoilers] and while it overall did feel earned, it would have been more satisfying to see them working toward that in the narration.
Loved Dani, loved Lisan. Favorite characters. But as a nonbinary healer myself, I do have my biases. This was incredibly good food re: queer rep, and I adore it for that. Nonbinary, ace spectrum, polyam, bi. Beautiful.
I like that not everything about how the world of Trinity and its song and all was explained. I think it worked for the story, for Val, and for the world Becca built. I would love to see more in this world someday, maybe eventually exploring more of what storm-touched can do and what the heart of Trinity truly is.
Die Hard but make it teen enby after their sisters, steampunk, climatepunk, and with a little dash of dark magical girl and mecha for flavoring. Wonderful worldbuilding choices were made.
I will definitely be seeking out more of Becca Coffindaffer’s work.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Anticipated Release date: April 7, 2026
Genre: dystopian fantasy
Series: standalone
“Time for them to meet the Butcher.”
This was the first book I’ve read by Coffindaffer, and I was swept away by how vivid the story felt. The writing made it easy to become immersed in the narrative, and at times it felt like I was right there alongside our fmc Valene, experiencing the harshness of the world with her.
The world of Trinity is a harsh desert wasteland, and the author does a great job conveying the environment in a way that nearly makes you feel the grit on your skin and in your eyes.
The best part of Trinity? We have two moons that are lavender! (That’s only ever mentioned once and should’ve been mentioned more in my opinion).
The only thing that held me back at times was having to lean pretty heavily on my willing suspension of disbelief when it came to some parts of the worldbuilding.
For example, the characters travel across an expansive copper plain (yes, a metal desert), which is a fascinating concept. However, I kept wondering how something like that came to be.
That said, one of the aspects I enjoyed most was the focus on relationships. I’m always a sucker for stories that center around familial bonds, and I appreciated how Valene would do anything for her sisters.
I can’t say much more without going into spoiler territory.
For fans of: Mad Max: Fury Road
What to expect:
Morally grey assassin fmc
Strong emphasis on sibling (sister) relationships
Found family dynamics
A gritty desert setting with unique worldbuilding elements
First person pov
Thank you Macmillan Children’s publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Genre: dystopian fantasy
Series: standalone
“Time for them to meet the Butcher.”
This was the first book I’ve read by Coffindaffer, and I was swept away by how vivid the story felt. The writing made it easy to become immersed in the narrative, and at times it felt like I was right there alongside our fmc Valene, experiencing the harshness of the world with her.
The world of Trinity is a harsh desert wasteland, and the author does a great job conveying the environment in a way that nearly makes you feel the grit on your skin and in your eyes.
The best part of Trinity? We have two moons that are lavender! (That’s only ever mentioned once and should’ve been mentioned more in my opinion).
The only thing that held me back at times was having to lean pretty heavily on my willing suspension of disbelief when it came to some parts of the worldbuilding.
For example, the characters travel across an expansive copper plain (yes, a metal desert), which is a fascinating concept. However, I kept wondering how something like that came to be.
That said, one of the aspects I enjoyed most was the focus on relationships. I’m always a sucker for stories that center around familial bonds, and I appreciated how Valene would do anything for her sisters.
I can’t say much more without going into spoiler territory.
For fans of: Mad Max: Fury Road
What to expect:
Morally grey assassin fmc
Strong emphasis on sibling (sister) relationships
Found family dynamics
A gritty desert setting with unique worldbuilding elements
First person pov
Thank you Macmillan Children’s publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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