The Bloody and the Damned

by Becca Coffindaffer

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Queer, LGBT, Fiction

393 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2026

About the author

Becca 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.

Reviews

[Rebecca Coffindaffer]

NOTES (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.

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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.

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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.

[Laura (crofteereader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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}

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[rachel x]

NEW REBECCA COFFINDAFFER, I REPEAT,
NEW REBECCA COFFINDAFFER, THIS IS NOT A DRILL

And there's a nonbinary protagonist

[Becca Coffindaffer]

3 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

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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.

[KMart Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Burganndy Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"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.

[Meigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

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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.

[Halie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Shannon Miz · Rating 4 out of 5]

"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! Obviously, it fit because Val was more than willing to die for their loved ones. But on the other hand, Val doesn't get to live, and I felt kind of cheated for them. 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

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

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.

I think Horace is right, that all I ever wanted was for Halle and Kelda to be safe. For them to be able to grow up, to age, to have good lives without blood on their hands or the soles of their shoes. To exist someplace where they can afford to be soft. I was willing to destroy myself and everything around me to make that happen. I nearly did.

But now I'm here, on the edge of a world that's more broken than I ever thought possible, and suddenly I don't know if it's enough.

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 at the end, there is only one main villain instead of something like, an entrenched problem with society as a whole. Personally, I think the plot could have been improved with longer time spent considering what kind of society a system like this breeds instead of just pinning it on one main villain. 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.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Sidney · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Steph | bookedinsaigon · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

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....

[kelsey ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[RedReviews4You Susan-Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE BLOODY AND THE DAMNED by Becca Coffindaffer is a true YA gem — the kind of book I’d hand to any reader, any age, with zero hesitation. It’s gritty, heartfelt, queer‑inclusive, and built on a world that feels lived‑in from page one.

The LGBTQ+ rep shines, especially in Orion’s brother Atlas and his partner/husband, who steal every scene they’re in. And while the romance stays firmly in YA territory — longing glances, charged moments, subtle touches — the emotional tension between Val and Orion thrums through the story like a haunting windsong across the sands of Trinity. Their almost‑second‑chance dynamic is delicious.

But the real beating heart of this novel is the world itself. Coffindaffer blends steampunk grit, old‑western dust, and post‑apocalyptic edge into something that feels like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly collided with The Quick and the Dead and then wandered into a laser‑focused YA narrative. The action hits like a movie sprint, the dialogue is sharp and observant, and the whole thing has the kinetic punch of Red Dead Redemption with the imaginative charm of a Miyazaki steampunk anime.

I loved living exclusively in Val’s perspective. There were moments when I wanted to spend more time inside her thoughts, but the sparse, intentional way she speaks to herself fits beautifully with the ending. That final chapter snaps the whole narrative into place the way the last puzzle piece makes the full picture suddenly sharper and seamless.

Adult and YA readers alike will close this book with total satisfaction — this story stands complete on its own.

But because the world feels so fully realized and the characters so compelling, I’m left begging for more time in Trinity. Interconnected standalones, companion novels, anything — I’d read whatever Coffindaffer writes next, especially if it brings us back to this world. My TBR is already bracing for impact.

This book is a ride — cinematic, emotional, queer, gritty, and absolutely worth your time.

[Yolanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content Warning: violence, death, kidnapping

World Building: The world in this story is very interesting, it’s called Trinity and it’s a metal world, very dry as people fight for water. A lot of the characters rep LGBT+ which was nice. Would have loved more world building to get a better sense of the world.

Characters: Val is the Butcher. They have the power to phase, which is move very fast – it makes their job as a killer, really easy. But when their sister’s are kidnapped, they need help to get them back. Val reunites with their ex-best friend, Orion, who deals in information. Other people round out their crew like Dani, who was their friend that betrayed them. There is also Atlas and Liren and I think this was my favorite part of the story, the found family between these people – who help Val get their sisters back.

Story: I don’t think I was the right audience for a book. For some reason, though I was invested in Val as a character because they are pretty bad-ass, I think maybe I needed more world-building. It goes straight into Val’s job as the Butcher and then their sister’s being kidnapped, so the story is taken up by the mission. There is a lot of action. Val needs to learn how not to do everything by themself and accept the help from the friends around them. But they are a tough character, so it takes them a while to let others in.

Final Thoughts:

Even though I wasn’t the target audience for this book, I think YA dystopian/sci-fi fans will find this one intriguing. I loved Val as a character, even though they were a tough person to crack. The world is very fascinating, but my favorite part was the found family.

Read if you like:

dystopian/sci-fi world
found family

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[MerakiReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

📱eARC

🌟 5

It's been a while since I've read a book that actually made me mad when I physically couldn't read it due to work or other obligations. Was I constantly yearning to sneak away for a few more pages? Absolutely.

This book was tailored to my tastes in such a perfect fit. Queer characters? Yes. Dystopian society? Of course. Main character whose entire goal is to protect their siblings? Absolutely. Some romantic tension as a soft subplot? You betcha. Main character has violence hammered into them, and they cling to it because being good at something, anything, that allows them to provide gives them a sense of identity? Check, check, check, please and thank you.

I'm obsessed with Valene, Halle, Kelda, Dani, and Orion. My heart is so full of their incredible journey and I want to spend ages in this story. Coffindaffer also does a PHENOMENAL job of showing over telling, so that you really step into Val's mind and see what they see, rather than having it explained before the work is put in. It's stunning.

This book will be one I reread over and over again. It's absolutely glorious. I wish we'd done more with the world building as far as the skyliners, BUT it didn't need to be part of the story, as it's so clean and concise already, and I'm absolutely here for it.

Important info! There's a sprayed edges edition by Ink & Edges which is GORGEOUS (and immediately going in my cart), AND THERE'S A PREORDER BONUS? INCLUDING A MAGNET, ART PRINT, AND STICKERS? I'm there babes. I need it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Brittany Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This world immediately pulled me in. The combination of religious power structures, archangels, and a harsh, desert dystopian setting where water is scarce? It felt gritty, oppressive, and completely immersive. The stakes were high from the start, and the atmosphere carried that tension all the way through.

The FMC? Absolutely brutal...in the best way. She knows who she is and doesn’t apologize for it, which made her such a compelling character to follow. I love a morally gray, take-no-prisoners heroine, and she delivered.

✨ What did I love most?
The fact that this story doesn’t rely on romance. There’s a little bit of innocent flirting, but that’s it, and honestly? THANK YOU. It let the plot, the worldbuilding, and the character arcs take center stage in a way that felt really refreshing.

The pacing also stood out. For a standalone fantasy, this moved really well, no dragging middle, no rushed buildup. Everything felt intentional and engaging.

Now… let’s talk about the ending.

I loved the twist; it had that almost Divergent-style reveal that I genuinely didn’t see coming. But the final chapters? That’s where things lost me a bit. I went from intrigued to confused pretty quickly, and I found myself asking, wait… what actually just happened? It didn’t quite land as clearly as I wanted, which is the only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me.

⭐ Overall: A bold, atmospheric dystopian fantasy with a fierce FMC, unique religious worldbuilding, and a refreshingly minimal romance, just be prepared for a slightly confusing finish.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, PRH Audio and Fierce Reads, for the gifted ALC and e-ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

3.5 stars

This book started off so strong! I devoured the first half of the book. I loved Val and how she was brutal and did whatever it took to protect her sisters. On the flip side, she was hot-headed and didn't really think things through. This is where the second half started to fall a bit apart for me. She asks for help because she needs it. Yet, she keeps wanting to just throw caution to the wind and do it all herself. It was quite frustrating. I really enjoyed many of the characters, though. They were complex and had a lot to add to the story.

I felt like I was reading two different books. The first half was fast-paced, engaging, and had me wanting to keep reading. The second half of the book felt like I was thrown into a completely different story. The world-building was lacking, and it felt like I was being told a lot of things. I enjoyed the magic, politics, and assassin aspects of the book. I just wish we had gotten more from it. There are many things relevant to today's world, such as climate change, religion, and oppression. It felt as if she took on too much for it to be a standalone.

I did listen to the audio and E. A. Castillo. She did a great job with the narration for most of the characters. I do wish she had made the male characters stand out a little more. I sometimes had to think who was speaking because it was a little too similar to the female voices. Overall, I really enjoyed her voice and tone.

[Tee · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[mary rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley, roaring brook press, and macmillan children’s for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review! and if i’m being honest, there was a *lot* going on here. not that i didn’t enjoy it, mind you, but the worldbuilding was really vast and detailed, which meant that it was a confusing read to start. coffindaffer clearly put a lot of effort into the system of heralds and archangels and saints, and it was fun to get to know about it. things began to make more sense for me as i continued reading, even with the twists that came. this book is described as a standalone which i really, really hope ends up changing because i definitely read it as the first in a duo or series (my fault!) and i think its ending makes a good jumping off point for another book. a lot of things can be expanded on in a second book, including val’s relationships with orion and dani. what we get in this book is sweet and hints at more if the time and place were right, which i can appreciate. this book sits in the same interesting spot as something like the good luck girls by charlotte nicole davis in its setting and worldbuilding, so if that or anything else i’ve said here sounds interesting, give this book a shot!

this review is also available on instagram here!

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pick this one up if you're looking for a sci-fi fantasy that gives Arcane and Iron Widow vibes with a non-binary MC who is fuelled by rage and stabbing. It also has a little queer found family and why-choose love triangle with themes of religion, climate change and family bonds.

My only thing was that I wish it was longer! There were two main storylines and I think both needed to be fleshed out a bit more, especially the last bit it felt a bit rushed.

That being said it still made for such an interesting story, I loved all the action scenes and the couple of heists that were going on. The characters were also great, though I would've loved a bit more depth to the side characters I enjoyed reading about Val's journey and their growth to embracing the fact that she didn't have to be alone. The worldbuilding was also very unique and interesting, set in a dystopian world I loved how the author weaved religion and fantasy elements into the story. The powers and Saints were a very cool concept and I loved how detailed the description of Val's phasing was as well!

Overall a great YA book that was easy to read. If you're looking for a sci-fi, dystopian, fantasy book I definitely recommend checking this one out!

Thanks to the author for a copy after which I read the book and left my review voluntarily.

[Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Erin Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!