What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bloody and the Damned
Not yet published
Expected 7 Apr 26An 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.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 7, 2026
15 people are currently reading
12840 people want to read
About the author
Becca Coffindaffer
2 books46 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
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.
Want to read
February 9, 2026The summary doesn't move me but "aimed at fans of Hell Followed with Us and Iron Widow" is irresistible so
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
October 26, 2023NEW 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.
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}
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.
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 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
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....
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars
To start this off, I have a huge soft spot for unusual magic systems. I still love the typical cast-a-spell-with-an-incantation sort of magic, but I adore when magic gets a bit weird. This absolutely fit that bill for me.
Val and their special ability gripped me right from the start. I had a bit of trouble conceptualizing the world itself at first. It’s extremely alien; the ground is made of metal and there are floating houses and estates, and humans are the only life form around. I picked up more of the context as we went along, but I did struggle a bit at the start to really “see” the world the author created.
When I did see it, hoo boy. There were so many things I loved about this. The juxtaposition of the privileged sky dwellers and the desperate people down below. The religion with Saints and Prophets and the literal Gates of Heaven in the distance was odd but evocative- the story of Val’s mother slowly fading as she became a prophet, losing her ability to do anything but sing the song of the planet itself.
The only things that keep me from giving it 5 stars is the aforementioned difficulty visualizing the world as a whole, and the way the story ends up feeling a bit rushed in the second half. I love that it’s a standalone novel; I don’t think it needed to be two books. I do wish that it had taken its time a little bit more in the ramp up to the climax. I may be in the minority, but I love a long book and would welcome that here, so we can see more of Val and their found family.
4/5 stars
To start this off, I have a huge soft spot for unusual magic systems. I still love the typical cast-a-spell-with-an-incantation sort of magic, but I adore when magic gets a bit weird. This absolutely fit that bill for me.
Val and their special ability gripped me right from the start. I had a bit of trouble conceptualizing the world itself at first. It’s extremely alien; the ground is made of metal and there are floating houses and estates, and humans are the only life form around. I picked up more of the context as we went along, but I did struggle a bit at the start to really “see” the world the author created.
When I did see it, hoo boy. There were so many things I loved about this. The juxtaposition of the privileged sky dwellers and the desperate people down below. The religion with Saints and Prophets and the literal Gates of Heaven in the distance was odd but evocative- the story of Val’s mother slowly fading as she became a prophet, losing her ability to do anything but sing the song of the planet itself.
The only things that keep me from giving it 5 stars is the aforementioned difficulty visualizing the world as a whole, and the way the story ends up feeling a bit rushed in the second half. I love that it’s a standalone novel; I don’t think it needed to be two books. I do wish that it had taken its time a little bit more in the ramp up to the climax. I may be in the minority, but I love a long book and would welcome that here, so we can see more of Val and their found family.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I thought this was a pretty good read!
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book, but it was a lot of fun. I thought the action scenes were really well done, and I appreciated that we dove into them right off the bat while still grounding the reader. The world building for this secondary dystopian world was really cool to read about, and I found it to be interesting how this is set in 2120.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was Val’s relationship with their sisters—Halle and Kelda. You could tell that they would move heaven and earth for them right from the start, and thus it made Val’s mission to rescue their kidnapped sisters all the more compelling.
I also really loved the found family that was present through this story, as more and more people were added to the group during the mission.
One thing that didn’t work as well for me was the fact that the main plot was resolved nearly two-thirds into the book, only for another situation to be brought up… And I felt as though the latter was a bit rushed in terms of wrapping things up. (This book is a standalone, but the author could’ve maybe expanded this story into two books, or prolonged this book to better flesh out the second situation.)
But I still enjoyed reading the book nonetheless, and I would recommend it for anyone that wants to read a good YA sci-fi/dystopian novel!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for allowing me to read the eARC!
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book, but it was a lot of fun. I thought the action scenes were really well done, and I appreciated that we dove into them right off the bat while still grounding the reader. The world building for this secondary dystopian world was really cool to read about, and I found it to be interesting how this is set in 2120.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was Val’s relationship with their sisters—Halle and Kelda. You could tell that they would move heaven and earth for them right from the start, and thus it made Val’s mission to rescue their kidnapped sisters all the more compelling.
I also really loved the found family that was present through this story, as more and more people were added to the group during the mission.
One thing that didn’t work as well for me was the fact that the main plot was resolved nearly two-thirds into the book, only for another situation to be brought up… And I felt as though the latter was a bit rushed in terms of wrapping things up. (This book is a standalone, but the author could’ve maybe expanded this story into two books, or prolonged this book to better flesh out the second situation.)
But I still enjoyed reading the book nonetheless, and I would recommend it for anyone that wants to read a good YA sci-fi/dystopian novel!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for allowing me to read the eARC!
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Roaring Brook Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. A fast paced thrilling story! In order to survive and provide for their sisters Val has used their teleportation powers, powers that are outlawed, to become Trinity’s most notorious assassin. They’re known as The Butcher. No one should be able to connect Val to The Butcher. But when their sisters are kidnapped and their friend killed, they realizes someone knows who they are. Feeling alone and desperate Val is forced to rely on the last person they would want to, Orion, their ex-best friend who is a their and also broke their heart. As they fight to save their sisters they realize there might be something bigger going on, something that could change everything they’ve ever known about Trinity. Val will travel all over Trinity looking for their sisters, each place more dangerous then the last. Can the save their sisters? Can they trust Orion? Or will The Butcher finally meet their end? An engaging story from start to finish! Becca Coffindaffer does a great job with the world building and I loved the depth of the characters! A great read, especially if you enjoy queer sci-fi!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75/5
This was almost EXACTLY what I was looking for in a new standalone YA Fantasy. Beautiful symbolism dancing around a dystopian and aggressively religious and segregated society. Strange powers and amazing skills from the main character. Well written and succinct but fast moving plot and characters that gripped me from the first chapter.
This book was complex with a great twist or two, but still wrapped up in a way I enjoy! All questions answered and the contuation left to you as a reader.
I will admit - I went in blind beyond the description and missed that this was a LGBT+ tagged book. The main character was nonbinary, which isn't my typical read, but the writing kept me going and I'm so happy it did! The characters status wasn't a whole plot point in the story (which drive me crazy when it is in fantasy and has no purpose beyond a pedastool and bubblewrapping a character) and no one treated them differently because of that (I mean the author too)! It was pleasant to read and her characters were overall well constructed!
I haven't read any other of Becca Coffindaffer's work, but I'm excited to add her to my line up now!
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
This was almost EXACTLY what I was looking for in a new standalone YA Fantasy. Beautiful symbolism dancing around a dystopian and aggressively religious and segregated society. Strange powers and amazing skills from the main character. Well written and succinct but fast moving plot and characters that gripped me from the first chapter.
This book was complex with a great twist or two, but still wrapped up in a way I enjoy! All questions answered and the contuation left to you as a reader.
I will admit - I went in blind beyond the description and missed that this was a LGBT+ tagged book. The main character was nonbinary, which isn't my typical read, but the writing kept me going and I'm so happy it did! The characters status wasn't a whole plot point in the story (which drive me crazy when it is in fantasy and has no purpose beyond a pedastool and bubblewrapping a character) and no one treated them differently because of that (I mean the author too)! It was pleasant to read and her characters were overall well constructed!
I haven't read any other of Becca Coffindaffer's work, but I'm excited to add her to my line up now!
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
December 20, 2025
Very fast paced and violent, the writing is imagery intensive, you can really picture the world that is being created. I can just visualize the airships and what the sky’s around the district/city looks like, even the weapons descriptions read like a movie. I got a bit of an Aeon Flux vibe at the start of the book, very much in a good way. The short quick chapters keep the plot moving. The magic system if you want to call it that, is interesting, they called them saints, but it almost seems like mutant powers more than magic. While there are religious overtones, there’s a little bit of a government/religion/corporation thing going on which I think is part of the sub-plot the author is creating about different systems of controlling people. Sci-fi is always political and a reflection of our society, and this book is no different though I do think it is more of a sub-plot and not distracting from the vigilante/outlaw hero story. Overall I enjoyed this book, it was a fun and action packed YA novel.
Please note, I received an ARC copy of this book for review from NetGalley, but that never influences my honest reviews of books or authors.
Please note, I received an ARC copy of this book for review from NetGalley, but that never influences my honest reviews of books or authors.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After their father died and their mother lost her mind to religious fervor, Val was willing to do anything to keep their sisters Halle and Kelda alive and safe in their desolate hellhole of a home. They wind up using their secret teleportation abilities to become a renowned assassin, though it's destroying their soul. Then a job goes sideways and their sisters are kidnapped. Val will need both their frontperson Dani and their estranged childhood best friend Orion, now a celebrated thief, to get them back. Val is a tenacious and damaged protagonist whose quest for revenge will cut a swath through their cultish, dystopian, arid world. Thanks, Netgalley.
September 23, 2025
The Bloody and the Damned features a unique ‘magic’ system and political landscape. Val is a complex, traumatized, and young character and her impulsivity and actions reflect that as she tries to survive and protect her sisters. It’s very nice to see her grow from her selfish/impulsive and only trying to survive mindset into one that realizes that life could be more.
As the plot is concerned, there are amazing real-world reflections that show the dangers of blindly trusting corporations or powerful people to lookout for the greater good and how it’s important to lookout for nature. I also love how the magic of Val’s world is (essentially) nature working to take its revenge.
I have two problems with this book. Firstly, this book feels like 1.5 books. By the 70% mark the original primary problem and most plot points have been solved, and a formerly minor problem is promoted. After spending 70% of the book solving problem 1, the remainder begins to feel rushed. Secondly, the only pronoun used is they/them, this occasionally makes the prose hard to follow as it sometimes it feels like a group is being addressed when only one person is. However, these are both minor problems.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
As the plot is concerned, there are amazing real-world reflections that show the dangers of blindly trusting corporations or powerful people to lookout for the greater good and how it’s important to lookout for nature. I also love how the magic of Val’s world is (essentially) nature working to take its revenge.
I have two problems with this book. Firstly, this book feels like 1.5 books. By the 70% mark the original primary problem and most plot points have been solved, and a formerly minor problem is promoted. After spending 70% of the book solving problem 1, the remainder begins to feel rushed. Secondly, the only pronoun used is they/them, this occasionally makes the prose hard to follow as it sometimes it feels like a group is being addressed when only one person is. However, these are both minor problems.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received a copy of this ARC thanks to Goodreads, NetGalley, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.
I enjoyed this story a lot. The characters were excellent, and I loved the world, but the story really needed time to breathe. There was so much going on and the story progressed so fast that we skipped over a lot of parts that could really have flushed out the story and breathed some life into it. I had so many questions but not much was answered.
I enjoyed this story a lot. The characters were excellent, and I loved the world, but the story really needed time to breathe. There was so much going on and the story progressed so fast that we skipped over a lot of parts that could really have flushed out the story and breathed some life into it. I had so many questions but not much was answered.
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 8, 2025
This book had high hopes for me but unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. I think there was too much information thrown at me from the start that I felt overwhelmed by it. The writing of the story itself was good, I liked how descriptive it was, but I wqs also I little lost. I think I just was not the right audience for this book overall.
August 30, 2025
gripping, defiant, and wholly original. loved the focus on sibling bonds & the darker undercurrents of religion and corruption running through the prose from the very beginning. really impressive and tightly-woven world building - perhaps a bit overwhelming at times, but brilliantly imaginative and exciting nonetheless.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am so grateful for the chance to read this ARC. This dystopian future was something new for me, but the relationship of Valene as the older sibling doing everything in their power to protect and care for their younger siblings hit close to home.
Fair warning, if you want an ending that tugs at the heart strings of attmiditedly a bit of a bleed heart, this story is for you. <3
Fair warning, if you want an ending that tugs at the heart strings of attmiditedly a bit of a bleed heart, this story is for you. <3
dnf
January 17, 2026DNF at 7% (Read the first two chapters, through page 20 of eARC).
The action in the opening chapters was good, and I didn’t mind Val as a ruthless assassin main character; but the writing had a bit too much telling for my personal liking. I’m also not someone who necessarily gravitates towards science fiction, so ultimately this story just isn’t for me.
The action in the opening chapters was good, and I didn’t mind Val as a ruthless assassin main character; but the writing had a bit too much telling for my personal liking. I’m also not someone who necessarily gravitates towards science fiction, so ultimately this story just isn’t for me.
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.
Want to read
July 24, 2025always ready for anything said to be perfect for iron widow fans.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews