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Bonds of Blood #1
Claim of Blood
He was sent to surveil the monster.
He never meant to crave him.
Leo von Rothenburg has always been the obedient son. A hunter from a bloodline older than the Vatican itself, raised to track, report, and destroy. No questions. No hesitation.
Adam Matthews is the prize his family has hunted for centuries: an ancient vampire draped in power, hiding in plain sight behind glass towers and a thousand aliases.
But the moment Adam’s dark gaze meets Leo’s, something inside him shatters. A pull, raw and undeniable, binds them in a connection he thought could never exist.
When Leo’s family suddenly cuts him off and leaves him stranded among their enemies, he doesn’t understand why. All he knows is that the people he trusted most have abandoned him without a word, and he’s alone in a world he was raised to fear, claimed by a creature he was born to kill.
Adam’s possessive touch awakens instincts Leo doesn’t understand—and doesn’t want to. And he isn’t the only one. Lander, a born vampire bound to Adam for centuries, feels the same impossible pull.
No vampire has ever claimed two companions. No hunter has ever survived such a bond. As the solstice approaches, the lines between enemy and lover blur beyond recognition, and Leo must decide what he’s willing to surrender.
His family.
His duty.
Or himself.
Content Warning: Dark MM+ romance with possessive behavior, blood drinking, dubious consent, and explicit content. HEA across the series.
He never meant to crave him.
Leo von Rothenburg has always been the obedient son. A hunter from a bloodline older than the Vatican itself, raised to track, report, and destroy. No questions. No hesitation.
Adam Matthews is the prize his family has hunted for centuries: an ancient vampire draped in power, hiding in plain sight behind glass towers and a thousand aliases.
But the moment Adam’s dark gaze meets Leo’s, something inside him shatters. A pull, raw and undeniable, binds them in a connection he thought could never exist.
When Leo’s family suddenly cuts him off and leaves him stranded among their enemies, he doesn’t understand why. All he knows is that the people he trusted most have abandoned him without a word, and he’s alone in a world he was raised to fear, claimed by a creature he was born to kill.
Adam’s possessive touch awakens instincts Leo doesn’t understand—and doesn’t want to. And he isn’t the only one. Lander, a born vampire bound to Adam for centuries, feels the same impossible pull.
No vampire has ever claimed two companions. No hunter has ever survived such a bond. As the solstice approaches, the lines between enemy and lover blur beyond recognition, and Leo must decide what he’s willing to surrender.
His family.
His duty.
Or himself.
Content Warning: Dark MM+ romance with possessive behavior, blood drinking, dubious consent, and explicit content. HEA across the series.
469 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2025
114 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
dnf
July 25, 2025I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
DNF @ 39%
just not for me, fam.
as much as the sex is sexing, i'm almost half through and still waiting for something other than that to happen. i'm also unsure how adam, who is ancient egyptian, is still cultureless at this point.
i appreciate the try, but i think it is important to remember to enrich a narrative with cultural representation if your MC is Black/Brown and is called Adam Matthews.
DNF @ 39%
just not for me, fam.
as much as the sex is sexing, i'm almost half through and still waiting for something other than that to happen. i'm also unsure how adam, who is ancient egyptian, is still cultureless at this point.
i appreciate the try, but i think it is important to remember to enrich a narrative with cultural representation if your MC is Black/Brown and is called Adam Matthews.
dnf-2025
July 18, 2025DNF, no rating, the writing isn't for me.
Also, no credit or mention for the cover art.
I did a slow blink at the dedication though:
I don't understand the over-sharing thing, but maybe that's just me.
Author tags: Power exchange and BDSM dynamics, dubious consent situations, possessive and controlling behavior, trauma and its aftermath, psychological manipulation and control, MM+ scenarios, blood and blood play
Also, no credit or mention for the cover art.
I did a slow blink at the dedication though:
For my husband: who never read this book—but definitely benefited…
I don't understand the over-sharing thing, but maybe that's just me.
Author tags: Power exchange and BDSM dynamics, dubious consent situations, possessive and controlling behavior, trauma and its aftermath, psychological manipulation and control, MM+ scenarios, blood and blood play
July 26, 2025
I had to stop reading. It started out good but I’m pretty sure AI took over. The repeated sentences the over use of the same words. It just got ridiculous.
November 4, 2025
3.75* had a decent time. this book needs to be edited stat. quite a few inconsistencies with information and formatting issues.
July 21, 2025
Claim of Blood is the first book in the Blood Bound series. This is a new author for me and I really enjoyed the story. Please read the trigger warnings before starting this book, also know this is an MMM story.This is the story of Adam an ancient powerful vampire, Leo a hunter from an old family, and Lander a 250+ vampire. I enjoyed the steam between these three and there is a lot of steamy moments. There is blood and violence but it fits well in this world. The characters are very believable and the world building is amazingly done. The plot keeps the story interesting. I wasn't expecting the cliffhanger at the end but now I have to wait for the next book to see what happens. I'm really looking forward to seeing where Mira Lafontaine goes with this series. I would definitely recommend this book.
July 27, 2025
I am disappointed. Because I had huge expectation and this was my kind of book.
The disappointment comes in the form of Leo. There is absolutely next-to-no conversation between Adam and Leo. Only s*x. Leo gives in so easily, no resistance and he was supposed to be the main character & the key & the perfect blood compatible partner to millennial old vampire & he just bend over backwards. There is no push & pull that I was expecting. Leonard showed more character & resistance. Leo was like a doormat bride with just a label of hunter.
The disappointment comes in the form of Leo. There is absolutely next-to-no conversation between Adam and Leo. Only s*x. Leo gives in so easily, no resistance and he was supposed to be the main character & the key & the perfect blood compatible partner to millennial old vampire & he just bend over backwards. There is no push & pull that I was expecting. Leonard showed more character & resistance. Leo was like a doormat bride with just a label of hunter.
dnf
August 1, 2025Dnfing because the author clearly loves using AI for their online presence, the book cover and I suspect some of the writing inside.
Please keep AI away from books, I don't want it.
Please keep AI away from books, I don't want it.
July 28, 2025
The book is really interesting with its world building and its take on vampires, hunters, and other magical creatures.
Unfortunately the romance didn’t work for me at all.
There were a few more things that were just weird as well, like the stuff with Lander’s parents.
The plot itself was interesting, maybe a tad too long.
It ends kind of on a cliffhanger but I just didn't like it enough to continue with the series...
Unfortunately the romance didn’t work for me at all.
There were a few more things that were just weird as well, like the stuff with Lander’s parents.
The plot itself was interesting, maybe a tad too long.
It ends kind of on a cliffhanger but I just didn't like it enough to continue with the series...
Read
August 4, 2025DNF at 25%
No story and just smut, not for me
No story and just smut, not for me
August 6, 2025
Mira Lafontaine is a new me author and this was my first read by them. But while I enjoyed some of this book, idk just something strange about it as well which made it hard to get through.
July 24, 2025
4.5 stars - I always love finding a new paranormal series to sink my teeth into. This story is exactly what I look for – a new world with interesting aspects, characters and storyline. Here, we have Leo, a young man who has been raised to believe vampires are bad and must be eradicated and has been trained his whole life on these principles to hunt them. In this capacity, he is basically pushed by his family into the path of Adam, the oldest, strongest vampire “alive.”
It doesn’t take long before Adam claims Leo and it is thought that they share a blood bond claim, although little is known about the rare phenomenon. Leo feels the pull to Adam and as they get to know more about one another, Leo learns to question everything he was taught about vampires and the others. There is another complication to their relationship though. Adam also seems to be feeling the same pull to Lander, another vampire who has been a trusted member of Adam’s Court and one of Adam’s reliable allies. When Adam claims Lander, there is quite a bit of pushback as Lander fights the bond and his feelings of inadequacy and hierarchy, especially with Leo being Adam’s actual bonded mate. Lander’s parents are one of the few other claimed mates in this world, so once they arrive, more is learned about what they are all going through. There is the added dynamic of how Adam is with Leo compared to how he is with Lander, i.e. there is a vast difference in the dominance and submission, and I enjoyed how they were both different, yet similar.
Meanwhile, Leo’s old family seems to have set him up and basically ditched him. Leo came to the conclusion pretty quickly that this was the case, especially as more evidence is brought to light. He realized that he now has the opportunity of a new family and a meaningful purpose in life by helping keep them safe against the hunters. It takes some time to win over everyone into trusting an ex-hunter, but Leo’s actions and the backing of those who already believe in him help pave the way.
So, the von Rothenburgs have left town and the movement of other hunter families has put everyone on high alert. With Leo’s help, the shifters, witches and vampires have made agreements to help each other and have shored up their security systems. Things are ramping up rather quickly, but there isn’t any indication of what the hunters actually have planned.
So, between everything going on with Adam, Leo and Lander, and navigating their intricate relationship and how that plays out with regard to the bigger picture (Leo, being Adam’s claimed mate, is now second only to Adam), and what may come of the hunters’ actions, this story keeps you on your toes. I found myself turning pages and scrambling for reading time to watch it all play out. This is a long story, but it sure didn’t feel that way. I was so invested that I really didn’t want it to end. It feels like there is so much left to learn about this world with regards to Leo’s real background, they dynamics among the 3 groups now working together more than ever, and even with the evolution of the claimed bond relationships which appears to still have room to grow. Needless to say, I was not ready to say goodbye, even for now, and I really hope we don’t have to wait too long for the story to continue.
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
July 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Claim of Blood by Mira Lafontaine
Dark, decadent, and completely addictive.
I received this book for free through GRR for my honest feedback, below contains spoilers:
Mira Lafontaine has officially cemented herself as one of my go-to authors for immersive worldbuilding and deliciously dark MM+ romance. I’d read one of her previous books set in Porte du Coeur and already knew I loved her writing style—but Claim of Blood is something else entirely.
This book is spicy, with high heat MMM scenes, power exchange, and some dubcon moments that are deeply embedded in the character dynamics and central to the plot. That said, readers should absolutely heed the content warnings: there are intense power imbalances, possessive behaviors, blood play, BDSM dynamics, and psychological manipulation—all wrapped into a rich vampire court setting that is as political as it is primal.
Leo’s journey was what sold me most. Cast out by his hunter family after being blood-bound to Adam, an ancient vampire, Leo has to find new purpose in a world he was raised to destroy. His vulnerability, reluctance, and eventual surrender to Adam’s world (and Adam himself) felt incredibly well-paced. The fact that Leo doesn’t immediately become confident as Adam’s claimed companion made his growth so much more believable. Watching him start to take ownership of his role—and find belonging—was incredibly rewarding.
Adam is powerfully magnetic, and his claim over Leo sets off chaos in the supernatural world. But the dynamic gets even more complicated with Lander, a centuries-old born vampire in Adam’s court who also begins to experience the same rare blood pull toward Leo. Lander’s inclusion adds a depth of emotional tension I wasn’t expecting—but thoroughly enjoyed. His awkwardness around his vampire parents (despite being 250+ years old!) was surprisingly charming and added levity to the darker themes.
There’s a lot of sex in this book—but also a lot of substance. The lore, the Court politics, the magical and supernatural elements (vampires, witches, shifters, etc.) were layered and well-executed. I especially loved the hints that Leo may not be entirely human and that magic might lie dormant in him. The mysterious family heirloom ring, the grandmother’s bloodline, and Adam's sister’s suspicious behavior all point to something much bigger brewing—and I need answers.
The ending was both expected and a curveball, with media article excerpts that added depth and wrapped up the plot while leaving the door open. I’d call it a HEA but with a HFN feel—especially since I’m desperately hoping we get at least one more book focused on Adam, Leo, and Lander.
This book was nearly 500 pages, but it honestly didn’t feel long enough. I could’ve easily kept reading. Fans of dark MM+ paranormal romance with emotionally complex characters, high heat, and high stakes will devour this one.
Claim of Blood by Mira Lafontaine
Dark, decadent, and completely addictive.
I received this book for free through GRR for my honest feedback, below contains spoilers:
Mira Lafontaine has officially cemented herself as one of my go-to authors for immersive worldbuilding and deliciously dark MM+ romance. I’d read one of her previous books set in Porte du Coeur and already knew I loved her writing style—but Claim of Blood is something else entirely.
This book is spicy, with high heat MMM scenes, power exchange, and some dubcon moments that are deeply embedded in the character dynamics and central to the plot. That said, readers should absolutely heed the content warnings: there are intense power imbalances, possessive behaviors, blood play, BDSM dynamics, and psychological manipulation—all wrapped into a rich vampire court setting that is as political as it is primal.
Leo’s journey was what sold me most. Cast out by his hunter family after being blood-bound to Adam, an ancient vampire, Leo has to find new purpose in a world he was raised to destroy. His vulnerability, reluctance, and eventual surrender to Adam’s world (and Adam himself) felt incredibly well-paced. The fact that Leo doesn’t immediately become confident as Adam’s claimed companion made his growth so much more believable. Watching him start to take ownership of his role—and find belonging—was incredibly rewarding.
Adam is powerfully magnetic, and his claim over Leo sets off chaos in the supernatural world. But the dynamic gets even more complicated with Lander, a centuries-old born vampire in Adam’s court who also begins to experience the same rare blood pull toward Leo. Lander’s inclusion adds a depth of emotional tension I wasn’t expecting—but thoroughly enjoyed. His awkwardness around his vampire parents (despite being 250+ years old!) was surprisingly charming and added levity to the darker themes.
There’s a lot of sex in this book—but also a lot of substance. The lore, the Court politics, the magical and supernatural elements (vampires, witches, shifters, etc.) were layered and well-executed. I especially loved the hints that Leo may not be entirely human and that magic might lie dormant in him. The mysterious family heirloom ring, the grandmother’s bloodline, and Adam's sister’s suspicious behavior all point to something much bigger brewing—and I need answers.
The ending was both expected and a curveball, with media article excerpts that added depth and wrapped up the plot while leaving the door open. I’d call it a HEA but with a HFN feel—especially since I’m desperately hoping we get at least one more book focused on Adam, Leo, and Lander.
This book was nearly 500 pages, but it honestly didn’t feel long enough. I could’ve easily kept reading. Fans of dark MM+ paranormal romance with emotionally complex characters, high heat, and high stakes will devour this one.
November 24, 2025
I am absolutely conflicted with my feelings towards this book. I have read 69 % of it, so for now (as I am torn between DNF-ing and finishing it) I will rate it 3,5 stars (rounded down).
I will start with the positive things:
* The world-building is actually great, and I enjoyed it
* I love Leo, and honestly, he is the only reason why I still consider finishing this story
* The spicy scenes were well written
The negatives:
* idk who proofread this, but they seriously need to learn to do their job better. Only before writing this review did I look at other people's reviews and see that at first there were even more duplicate sentences (some with minimal rewording). But months later, after the release, I still found several such duplicates :/
* the whole time I was reading something felt wrong about the way the book was written. The way several sections are written and phrased...are like AI written roleplays. I truly hope I am just paranoid and that AI tools weren't used. But this feeling got worse from the middle off the book where I couldn't stop thinking that.
* maybe it's just me but to me the relationship between Leo and Adam severaly lacked depth. Leo had more normal conversations with others than with Adam. Their relationship truly seemed just sexual. (I will rewrite this if I find out that it got better in the last 1/3 of the book)
*I liked the first half of the story but then it went downhill, see spoiler below
I don't want to rant too much. I did have high hopes for this book, and besides several negatives, I would still consider it a good story. It needs a good proofreader and more focus on the depth of the relationship between Adam and Leo.
I will start with the positive things:
* The world-building is actually great, and I enjoyed it
* I love Leo, and honestly, he is the only reason why I still consider finishing this story
* The spicy scenes were well written
The negatives:
* idk who proofread this, but they seriously need to learn to do their job better. Only before writing this review did I look at other people's reviews and see that at first there were even more duplicate sentences (some with minimal rewording). But months later, after the release, I still found several such duplicates :/
* the whole time I was reading something felt wrong about the way the book was written. The way several sections are written and phrased...are like AI written roleplays. I truly hope I am just paranoid and that AI tools weren't used. But this feeling got worse from the middle off the book where I couldn't stop thinking that.
* maybe it's just me but to me the relationship between Leo and Adam severaly lacked depth. Leo had more normal conversations with others than with Adam. Their relationship truly seemed just sexual. (I will rewrite this if I find out that it got better in the last 1/3 of the book)
*I liked the first half of the story but then it went downhill, see spoiler below
I don't want to rant too much. I did have high hopes for this book, and besides several negatives, I would still consider it a good story. It needs a good proofreader and more focus on the depth of the relationship between Adam and Leo.
December 3, 2025
I really enjoyed this one to my surprise and the smut was A+. I did feel there was a lack of depth between Leo and Adam. I found myself wanting more of an emotional connection between the two. Leo really kind of came across as a pet sometimes. I'd say Lander and Adam had more depth together since they tested and pushed each other's boundaries and learned and gained an actual understanding for each other by doing so. While we do see Leo explore his boundaries, since there was very little push back from him, it made his character seem a little bland. Not going to lie, I did find myself skimming the more mundane details of court life. Especially since those details didn't lead to a big story arc. Overall, I recommend this book and I plan to check out the author's other works since I enjoyed her writing style.
July 27, 2025
What an introduction.....
when is book 2 out? soon?
Honestly I hate, despise and any other discription that shows extreme dislike is how I feel about Leos family. They verbally abused him, set him up as bait, and even when "training" physically abused him. Then come the end of the book, they miss him.... I really hope we get an interview in book 2 where Leo shows his families lies and true colors.
The relationship with Adam and Lander is certainly interesting and regardless of what the pair/grouping is hot AF. I kept waiting of Adam becoming jealous....then Leo becoming jealous, none of which happened. But there is soo much more to come and I cant wait
when is book 2 out? soon?
Honestly I hate, despise and any other discription that shows extreme dislike is how I feel about Leos family. They verbally abused him, set him up as bait, and even when "training" physically abused him. Then come the end of the book, they miss him.... I really hope we get an interview in book 2 where Leo shows his families lies and true colors.
The relationship with Adam and Lander is certainly interesting and regardless of what the pair/grouping is hot AF. I kept waiting of Adam becoming jealous....then Leo becoming jealous, none of which happened. But there is soo much more to come and I cant wait
August 14, 2025
Not Quite a Cliffhanger...
Okay, this book was amazing! The characters are well thought out and have a depth to them. The triad relationship elves in a way that feels natural (taking magic into account) and none of them are in insta-love (but definitely insta-lust). My only problem was the book ended too soon. I've got to know more about where Felix fits into the equation, and that Nathaniel and Ellis pairing... This wasn't a full cliffhanger, but definitely ended with a setup for a second book. Read this today, but do mind the trigger warnings.
Okay, this book was amazing! The characters are well thought out and have a depth to them. The triad relationship elves in a way that feels natural (taking magic into account) and none of them are in insta-love (but definitely insta-lust). My only problem was the book ended too soon. I've got to know more about where Felix fits into the equation, and that Nathaniel and Ellis pairing... This wasn't a full cliffhanger, but definitely ended with a setup for a second book. Read this today, but do mind the trigger warnings.
November 1, 2025
Great world building and relationships
This book has great world building, developing relationships, hot scenes, vampire society and hunter challenges.
This book keeps you engaged as you get thrust into a world of vampires and supernaturals. We get to see a lot of relationships develop within this book and not just the romantic ones.
There were some times when the book got a bit slow but always was interesting. There is more than just the initial hunter and vamp relationship. I can tell there will be plenty more to come.
This book has great world building, developing relationships, hot scenes, vampire society and hunter challenges.
This book keeps you engaged as you get thrust into a world of vampires and supernaturals. We get to see a lot of relationships develop within this book and not just the romantic ones.
There were some times when the book got a bit slow but always was interesting. There is more than just the initial hunter and vamp relationship. I can tell there will be plenty more to come.
July 22, 2025
I received a free copy of this ebook from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest opinion.
This was a great read! From beginning to end, I was hooked! The plot was well paced and well thought out. The main characters had so many layers and their emotions mage sense. Even the background characters stood out! The romance was hot and sweet. The story ends on a cliffhanger so I'll just be slowly suffering until the next book comes out.
This was a great read! From beginning to end, I was hooked! The plot was well paced and well thought out. The main characters had so many layers and their emotions mage sense. Even the background characters stood out! The romance was hot and sweet. The story ends on a cliffhanger so I'll just be slowly suffering until the next book comes out.
July 28, 2025
This was ok, it went a little downhill for me towards the middle/last third, and maybe the next book will bring clarity but it was weird to have the mmc claim both when Felix was explicitly stated as a perfect match, will it be a foursome? And how could he stay away once he recognized that it was a perfect match? It didn’t make sense to me.
October 18, 2025
huh idk why reviews are so bad. this book was pretty fire. editing needs works since some stuff is repeating but the story itself is amazing. LOVED LOVED ADAM AND LANDER TOGETHER. need them to keep being crazy about eo in next book. kept wishing they'd be a thing and it happened and I loved every word of it.
July 25, 2025
Paranormal urban fantasy, vampire x hunter, age gap, enemies-to-lovers, fated mates/bond mates, hurt/comfort, small sharing scene but not a full group scene, some dark themes.
This is my first book by this author, and I've enjoyed it. I'm reading the second edition, but the title and cover doesn't seem to have updated on this yet.
There's a little mindbreak/brain-fog aspect when Leo is near Adam because of their bond. He gets a little sex-drunk and will do whatever Adam wants, but doesn't remember anything later. Leo gets abandoned to the vampires by his hunter family, and you see in the beginning with how they treat him and make snide comments that they secretly set him up. Terrible and good riddance, except his cousin Felix, who is the only one to treat Leo like a human being.
Enjoyed this one and can't wait for the next one.
This is my first book by this author, and I've enjoyed it. I'm reading the second edition, but the title and cover doesn't seem to have updated on this yet.
There's a little mindbreak/brain-fog aspect when Leo is near Adam because of their bond. He gets a little sex-drunk and will do whatever Adam wants, but doesn't remember anything later. Leo gets abandoned to the vampires by his hunter family, and you see in the beginning with how they treat him and make snide comments that they secretly set him up. Terrible and good riddance, except his cousin Felix, who is the only one to treat Leo like a human being.
Enjoyed this one and can't wait for the next one.
November 10, 2025
3.5 stars
This was intriguing but there are definitely elements to this story that I wasn't prepared for. You need to like voyerisom and like your couple's sex lives to be VVEEEERRRY Open if you're going to enjoy this book.
This was intriguing but there are definitely elements to this story that I wasn't prepared for. You need to like voyerisom and like your couple's sex lives to be VVEEEERRRY Open if you're going to enjoy this book.
December 4, 2025
DNF 85%
There needs to be heavy editing:
Quite a few paragraphs/sentences were repeated like the author copied and pasted. Misspellings. Characters seemingly switch attitudes when you think it’s going to lead a certain way. Unnecessary fluff. The list goes on..
I got this far because I’m bored.
There needs to be heavy editing:
Quite a few paragraphs/sentences were repeated like the author copied and pasted. Misspellings. Characters seemingly switch attitudes when you think it’s going to lead a certain way. Unnecessary fluff. The list goes on..
I got this far because I’m bored.
July 27, 2025
AI.
Some phrases are repeated but the wording is slightly different each time. This happened quite a few times.
DNF!
Some phrases are repeated but the wording is slightly different each time. This happened quite a few times.
DNF!
August 1, 2025
This was incredible unique and fast paced! The world was super interesting and I'm excited to see how the story progresses in book two as the ending of this one was wild!
September 9, 2025
4.5 stars i loved this book it was so good i can’t wait for the next one leo is such a sweet character he did not deserve his family to do that to him and the twists and turns were amazing
December 28, 2025
More?
I need the next book ASAP. This has been the only thing I have read in the past few days. Now I need the next one.
I need the next book ASAP. This has been the only thing I have read in the past few days. Now I need the next one.
August 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this unique take on vampire society. The world building was amazing, and all of the characters were well developed. There were a lot of dark elements, and you should definitely check trigger warnings before reading. It's MM+, which isn't for everyone but works very well within the storyline. My only real complaint is the need for additional proofreading. There is more than one instance of a duplicate paragraph being printed, as well as some minor continuity errors. That said, I definitely recommend it and plan to continue the series as more entries are published.
Note: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Note: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews