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The Lightbringers #1
Blood Iron and Bone
Aurelia
, a mortal girl, hears a strange call in the night and is compelled to answer...
In another world, Andar, betrothed to the future High Queen of Áithrim , can't understand why his supposed fated mate looks so right, but feels so wrong...
Duty, fate, blood iron and bone collide under a cursed sky...
In a kingdom on the precipice of the fulfillment or failure of its most famous prophecy, thrown together by fate and terrifying circumstance, a motley band of Fae and Human alike must come together for the good of the realm, even as the darkness that covers the land threatens to become permanent.
Fans of Rebecca Yarros, Holly Black, Sarah J. Maas, and Jennifer L. Armentrout will love this epic Fantasy Romance series featuring fated mates, found families, and chosen ones — Lightbringers — prophesied to break a darkness that threatens everything.
In another world, Andar, betrothed to the future High Queen of Áithrim , can't understand why his supposed fated mate looks so right, but feels so wrong...
Duty, fate, blood iron and bone collide under a cursed sky...
In a kingdom on the precipice of the fulfillment or failure of its most famous prophecy, thrown together by fate and terrifying circumstance, a motley band of Fae and Human alike must come together for the good of the realm, even as the darkness that covers the land threatens to become permanent.
Fans of Rebecca Yarros, Holly Black, Sarah J. Maas, and Jennifer L. Armentrout will love this epic Fantasy Romance series featuring fated mates, found families, and chosen ones — Lightbringers — prophesied to break a darkness that threatens everything.
456 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2025
52 people are currently reading
998 people want to read
About the author
Sera Foxe
2 books105 followersSera Foxe is a collaboration between authors Jayne Starwing, and Vilyn DeVine. Books by Sera Foxe are epic Faerish Fantasy Romances. Expect fated-mates stories of friendship and family (found and biological) unbound by the limitations of the known world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 375 reviews
December 27, 2024
Okay, so I just finished "Blood, Iron, and Bone" and I gotta tell you guys that it was a TRIP. I really enjoyed it, but fair warning it's definitely not for everyone. This book has SIX different points of view. Like seriously, six. It took I swear, 90% of my brainpower just to keep track of who was talking at any given moment. It was kind of like a mental workout, which I actually found super refreshing but I also think it could’ve been a tad smoother. Sometimes I was like, “Wait, whose head are we in again?!”
But honestly, that was part of the fun. It was like solving a giant puzzle and the payoff was worth it. It’s crazy because the whole book basically covers just a few days! The pacing was generally great, although there were a couple of times where I felt like it got a little sidetracked but it didn't happen often enough to be annoying.
Also, for anyone who’s into that kind of thing (GUILTY), there are fated mates in this book, but the romance isn't the main focus at all. It’s more like a subplot (IMHO). I was way more invested in figuring out all the different pieces of the story that the author was throwing at me. It was like a giant mystery box unfolding, and I was hooked.
There isn’t a lot of magic in this book, but I can tell it’s being set up to be explained in the next book for sure..and I can’t wait!!
Overall, I’d give it four stars. It was a really unique read, and even though keeping track of all the POVs was a bit of a challenge it made the whole experience more engaging. If you’re looking for something that’ll really make you think, love fantasy books with fae and good world building, definitely check it out. But if you're looking for a light and fluffy read not requiring a lot of brain power…maybe skip this one
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5
Read if you like:
✨ Fated Mates
✨ Fae x Human
✨ Multiple POVs (6)
✨ Animal guardian
✨ Found Family (the start of it)
✨ A bit of explicit romance
✨ World Building
✨ Magic
**Thank you NetGalley and Sera Foxe for the eARC. All opinions are my own and are completely voluntary.
But honestly, that was part of the fun. It was like solving a giant puzzle and the payoff was worth it. It’s crazy because the whole book basically covers just a few days! The pacing was generally great, although there were a couple of times where I felt like it got a little sidetracked but it didn't happen often enough to be annoying.
Also, for anyone who’s into that kind of thing (GUILTY), there are fated mates in this book, but the romance isn't the main focus at all. It’s more like a subplot (IMHO). I was way more invested in figuring out all the different pieces of the story that the author was throwing at me. It was like a giant mystery box unfolding, and I was hooked.
There isn’t a lot of magic in this book, but I can tell it’s being set up to be explained in the next book for sure..and I can’t wait!!
Overall, I’d give it four stars. It was a really unique read, and even though keeping track of all the POVs was a bit of a challenge it made the whole experience more engaging. If you’re looking for something that’ll really make you think, love fantasy books with fae and good world building, definitely check it out. But if you're looking for a light and fluffy read not requiring a lot of brain power…maybe skip this one
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5
Read if you like:
✨ Fated Mates
✨ Fae x Human
✨ Multiple POVs (6)
✨ Animal guardian
✨ Found Family (the start of it)
✨ A bit of explicit romance
✨ World Building
✨ Magic
**Thank you NetGalley and Sera Foxe for the eARC. All opinions are my own and are completely voluntary.
March 17, 2025
trigger warnings and other info at the end of the review
This book was SO. MUCH. FUN. First of all, can we appreciate the writing and the world building?! From the moment I downloaded it on my Kindle, I was HOOKED. I was constantly theorizing about what would happen next, what everything meant, and where the story was going to end up. All I can really say is I need to get my hands on an ARC for book 2 asap.
I had so much fun falling in love, exploring a new world, and following along as the book twists and turns. I laughed, swooned, gasped (in both fear and joy), and stayed up way later than I should just to spend a few more moments with Nova, Maw, and the whole cast of characters.
My HUGE thanks to NetGalley and Sera Foxe for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Wishing you the best of luck with publishing!!
_________________book info____________________
Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, Fae
Recommended Age Rating: 14+
Reasons Why: Language, sex, alcohol, violence
Overall Rating: A
This book was SO. MUCH. FUN. First of all, can we appreciate the writing and the world building?! From the moment I downloaded it on my Kindle, I was HOOKED. I was constantly theorizing about what would happen next, what everything meant, and where the story was going to end up. All I can really say is I need to get my hands on an ARC for book 2 asap.
I had so much fun falling in love, exploring a new world, and following along as the book twists and turns. I laughed, swooned, gasped (in both fear and joy), and stayed up way later than I should just to spend a few more moments with Nova, Maw, and the whole cast of characters.
My HUGE thanks to NetGalley and Sera Foxe for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Wishing you the best of luck with publishing!!
_________________book info____________________
Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, Fae
Recommended Age Rating: 14+
Reasons Why: Language, sex, alcohol, violence
Overall Rating: A
December 24, 2024
3.25 ⭐️
*ARC Review. Release Date: March 21st, 2025
I had to use almost every brain cell I have to decipher this mystery box of fae fun.
There's a curse shrouding the fae world in constant cloud cover, and a prophecy of fated mates to bring back the light. BUT, that clock is almost out, which is where this story begins.
A spiderweb of sticky bits and pieces.
Hats off to the authors (I didn't realize Sera Foxe was a pen name for 2 authors...the more you know!) for weaving 6....yes 6....character arcs into 1 storyline...via third person, omniscient narrator, I might add. Good luck keeping up because I sure couldn't until about the 50%-60% mark. If you want instant gratification, you won't find it here. This is a challenging read, but (for the most part) well built.
Loved all the different characters and their storylines. One of my favorite characters is Aife, but we don't get to see inside her head, even though she's giving major main character energy. Her powers are mind-blowing.
The multiple POVs did give me a bit of whiplash. Shifting between six character arcs, each with their own storylines, felt abrupt at times, disorienting me from the plot and unhooking me from the characters I was TRYING to get to know...it felt like I was following a group chat where everyone’s talking at once, and you can’t tell who’s typing or whose drama we’re focusing on anymore.
The book’s pacing was deliberate, leaning heavily into exposition and description, which gave it a storytelling feel (I could picture someone reading this to me...maybe this would be a good audio book???) but slowed the narrative momentum. It was prose-heavy, and seemed to prioritize detail and introspection over action. It's immersive, but lacked the energy of more action-driven storytelling. The events take place over the span of 2 or 3 days, but we jump back and forth between the present and the past so much that time seems to be distorted. Imagine someone reading you The Hobbit out loud but stopping every few sentences to explain why Bilbo’s doormat is culturally significant....that's this book.
The romance was...there. This is a story of Fated Mates, but I was so focused on keeping up with all the different characters and story points, frankly it just bled into everything else.
The world building was intricate and interesting. I was really impressed with this element. I plan to read book 2, but more to keep solving bits of this mystery rather than seeing where the romance goes.
Worth a read, just prepare to really FOCUS!
✔️ Fae + Humans
✔️ Multi POV (6)
✔️ Curses & Prophecies
✔️ Magic & Powers
✔️ Fated Mates
✔️ Intricate & Unique World Building
✔️ Explicit Content but Sparse (so, I'd say this is...steamy?)
*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC 💌
*ARC Review. Release Date: March 21st, 2025
I had to use almost every brain cell I have to decipher this mystery box of fae fun.
There's a curse shrouding the fae world in constant cloud cover, and a prophecy of fated mates to bring back the light. BUT, that clock is almost out, which is where this story begins.
A spiderweb of sticky bits and pieces.
Hats off to the authors (I didn't realize Sera Foxe was a pen name for 2 authors...the more you know!) for weaving 6....yes 6....character arcs into 1 storyline...via third person, omniscient narrator, I might add. Good luck keeping up because I sure couldn't until about the 50%-60% mark. If you want instant gratification, you won't find it here. This is a challenging read, but (for the most part) well built.
Loved all the different characters and their storylines. One of my favorite characters is Aife, but we don't get to see inside her head, even though she's giving major main character energy. Her powers are mind-blowing.
The multiple POVs did give me a bit of whiplash. Shifting between six character arcs, each with their own storylines, felt abrupt at times, disorienting me from the plot and unhooking me from the characters I was TRYING to get to know...it felt like I was following a group chat where everyone’s talking at once, and you can’t tell who’s typing or whose drama we’re focusing on anymore.
The book’s pacing was deliberate, leaning heavily into exposition and description, which gave it a storytelling feel (I could picture someone reading this to me...maybe this would be a good audio book???) but slowed the narrative momentum. It was prose-heavy, and seemed to prioritize detail and introspection over action. It's immersive, but lacked the energy of more action-driven storytelling. The events take place over the span of 2 or 3 days, but we jump back and forth between the present and the past so much that time seems to be distorted. Imagine someone reading you The Hobbit out loud but stopping every few sentences to explain why Bilbo’s doormat is culturally significant....that's this book.
The romance was...there. This is a story of Fated Mates, but I was so focused on keeping up with all the different characters and story points, frankly it just bled into everything else.
The world building was intricate and interesting. I was really impressed with this element. I plan to read book 2, but more to keep solving bits of this mystery rather than seeing where the romance goes.
Worth a read, just prepare to really FOCUS!
✔️ Fae + Humans
✔️ Multi POV (6)
✔️ Curses & Prophecies
✔️ Magic & Powers
✔️ Fated Mates
✔️ Intricate & Unique World Building
✔️ Explicit Content but Sparse (so, I'd say this is...steamy?)
*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC 💌
January 31, 2025
Fantastic new romantasy series! I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book, definitely nailed my love for fae stories.
The writing style was clear, detailed, and light-hearted. Bits of the book had me chuckling, giving knowing smiles, or reading as fast as I could to find out what happened next!
There were times when I was frustrated with this book in all the right ways! Often I would finish a chapter and eagerly flip the page only to find out that the narrative switched to a different character. 😅 Also, the plot twists near the end had me wanting to scream!
I will say, the story is a bit slow but only because you get a LOT of what the characters are thinking and feeling put on page. It didn't feel too slow for me, except the foreshadowing is pretty strong so I kinda knew where the first half of the book was going pretty early on.
🌶️🌶️/5, slow burn with one open door scene.
Can't wait for book 2 to come out this year!
The writing style was clear, detailed, and light-hearted. Bits of the book had me chuckling, giving knowing smiles, or reading as fast as I could to find out what happened next!
There were times when I was frustrated with this book in all the right ways! Often I would finish a chapter and eagerly flip the page only to find out that the narrative switched to a different character. 😅 Also, the plot twists near the end had me wanting to scream!
I will say, the story is a bit slow but only because you get a LOT of what the characters are thinking and feeling put on page. It didn't feel too slow for me, except the foreshadowing is pretty strong so I kinda knew where the first half of the book was going pretty early on.
🌶️🌶️/5, slow burn with one open door scene.
Can't wait for book 2 to come out this year!
December 18, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, Agency Press, and Sera Foxe for providing a free copy of Blood Iron and Bone in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
- Prophecy, chosen one, fated mates
- A fresh take on fae lore
- A touch of found family
- Magic - Witchcraft
Blood Iron and Bone is a new romantasy with a unique approach to fae lore. The way the author portrays the fae is unlike anything I’ve encountered before. The core elements that make fae fae are still present, but with intriguing twists that I found fascinating. I enjoyed the book a lot, but I’ll admit, there’s a lot of information, and at times it was confusing for me.
If I’m being honest, though, I only truly liked one character—Aurelia, who is more or less the main protagonist in this first installment. The pacing was fairly slow, which isn’t necessarily bad, but only in Aurelia’s chapters did we get any real action or interesting twists.
I found the world-building unique and dramatic. The author’s writing style is different from what I’m used to, and I can see how it might unsettle some readers. However, after getting used to it (around 20-30% into the book), it didn’t bother me anymore.
Overall, this is a solid introduction to the world, lore, and characters. The pace picks up at some point, and then it’s twist after twist. While the twists and plot points were somewhat predictable, the author’s writing is so engaging that it doesn’t matter.
Tropes:
- Prophecy, chosen one, fated mates
- A fresh take on fae lore
- A touch of found family
- Magic - Witchcraft
Blood Iron and Bone is a new romantasy with a unique approach to fae lore. The way the author portrays the fae is unlike anything I’ve encountered before. The core elements that make fae fae are still present, but with intriguing twists that I found fascinating. I enjoyed the book a lot, but I’ll admit, there’s a lot of information, and at times it was confusing for me.
If I’m being honest, though, I only truly liked one character—Aurelia, who is more or less the main protagonist in this first installment. The pacing was fairly slow, which isn’t necessarily bad, but only in Aurelia’s chapters did we get any real action or interesting twists.
I found the world-building unique and dramatic. The author’s writing style is different from what I’m used to, and I can see how it might unsettle some readers. However, after getting used to it (around 20-30% into the book), it didn’t bother me anymore.
Overall, this is a solid introduction to the world, lore, and characters. The pace picks up at some point, and then it’s twist after twist. While the twists and plot points were somewhat predictable, the author’s writing is so engaging that it doesn’t matter.
January 13, 2025
I absolutely love finding new authors and entering their new fantasy worlds, this was such a fun reading experience!
“Blood Iron and Bone” follows the lives of fae and humans whos worlds cross, there is a prophecy involved which is intended to save the fae kingdom from eternal fog and darkness, and main characters who have been dreaming of each other for years without truly expecting to find each other in real life.
I don’t want to go into more plot detail to avoid any spoilers but the five main characters who find themselves in the middle of a chaotic event are so fun to read about!
I really loved Cillian as a person he is definitely my favourite and would make me blush like a school girl, but on the other hand the longing and tension between Andar and Aurelia is unmatched, the entire time I was reading this book I was dying for them to meet and for something to happen between them!!! I was so motivated to get to the end for the pure reason of seeing their connection play out 😂😂
I found the characters to each be flawed but uniquely likeable in their own way., even Lark who I wasn’t especially keen on giving her tendency to have a pompous nature, I still found it impossible to dislike her because I also felt sorry for all her hardships of being in an impossible situation her whole life.
I can’t wait to continue with this series! The literal only critique I have is I feel the first 60% could be condensed to reduce the repetitive feel and speed the slow burn along, whereas I think the last 40% could have been slowed down. There was so much longing and angst build up between the main love interest which I LOVED, it had me on the edge of my seat, but the last few chapters had a rushed feel and I was dying for more content! That being said it just means I can’t WAIT for book 2 and I’m so glad it’s out in a couple of months!
Do yourself a favour and try this series! Let me know your thoughts if you do 🙏🏼
Thank you so much to Agency Press and Sera Foxe for the EARC!
Publish date : March 21st 2025
“Blood Iron and Bone” follows the lives of fae and humans whos worlds cross, there is a prophecy involved which is intended to save the fae kingdom from eternal fog and darkness, and main characters who have been dreaming of each other for years without truly expecting to find each other in real life.
I don’t want to go into more plot detail to avoid any spoilers but the five main characters who find themselves in the middle of a chaotic event are so fun to read about!
I really loved Cillian as a person he is definitely my favourite and would make me blush like a school girl, but on the other hand the longing and tension between Andar and Aurelia is unmatched, the entire time I was reading this book I was dying for them to meet and for something to happen between them!!! I was so motivated to get to the end for the pure reason of seeing their connection play out 😂😂
I found the characters to each be flawed but uniquely likeable in their own way., even Lark who I wasn’t especially keen on giving her tendency to have a pompous nature, I still found it impossible to dislike her because I also felt sorry for all her hardships of being in an impossible situation her whole life.
I can’t wait to continue with this series! The literal only critique I have is I feel the first 60% could be condensed to reduce the repetitive feel and speed the slow burn along, whereas I think the last 40% could have been slowed down. There was so much longing and angst build up between the main love interest which I LOVED, it had me on the edge of my seat, but the last few chapters had a rushed feel and I was dying for more content! That being said it just means I can’t WAIT for book 2 and I’m so glad it’s out in a couple of months!
Do yourself a favour and try this series! Let me know your thoughts if you do 🙏🏼
Thank you so much to Agency Press and Sera Foxe for the EARC!
Publish date : March 21st 2025
March 10, 2025
Blood Iron and Bone (The Lightbringers, #1) by Sera Foxe
Aurelia , a mortal girl, hears a strange call in the night and is compelled to answer...
In another world, Andar, betrothed to the future High Queen of Áithrim , can't understand why his supposed fated mate looks so right, but feels so wrong...
Duty, fate, blood iron and bone collide under a cursed sky...
Rating: ***
Feels: Anticipation,
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fae, Magic, High Fantasy
First published March 21, 2025 : 567 pages, Kindle
This book has so many unique features and is a really amazing read. So much is going on with the characters, multiple POV, subplots and lore. So many good elements of fantasy I love in this story with fated mates and a curse that plagues them. Just something about high stakes love and having to save you mate that I really love in a story. There was alot of detail that needed to be focused on and I'm sure as the world unfolds even more will be brought forth. This definitely had more of an epic fantasy feel with the details.
This book has:
Strong FMC
Multiple POV (6)
Slow Burn
Chosen One
Touch her and die
Found Family
Fated Mates
Politics
Magic
Aurelia , a mortal girl, hears a strange call in the night and is compelled to answer...
In another world, Andar, betrothed to the future High Queen of Áithrim , can't understand why his supposed fated mate looks so right, but feels so wrong...
Duty, fate, blood iron and bone collide under a cursed sky...
Rating: ***
Feels: Anticipation,
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fae, Magic, High Fantasy
First published March 21, 2025 : 567 pages, Kindle
This book has so many unique features and is a really amazing read. So much is going on with the characters, multiple POV, subplots and lore. So many good elements of fantasy I love in this story with fated mates and a curse that plagues them. Just something about high stakes love and having to save you mate that I really love in a story. There was alot of detail that needed to be focused on and I'm sure as the world unfolds even more will be brought forth. This definitely had more of an epic fantasy feel with the details.
This book has:
Strong FMC
Multiple POV (6)
Slow Burn
Chosen One
Touch her and die
Found Family
Fated Mates
Politics
Magic
December 2, 2024
A thrilling adventure with a well-built world, interesting characters, a fast-moving and surprising plot, and a really cool take on all things Fae. The chapters are so gripping you’ll be turning the pages quickly, eager to find out what happens next. The characters are incredibly captivating, each one bringing something unique to the story. I can't wait for the next book to see where their journeys take them. Thank you to #netgalley and @serafoxe and @agencypressbooks for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
January 9, 2025
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5
You know a fantasy book means business when it starts with a pronunciation guide!
I need to be honest—it took me a while to get into the story (maybe until halfway through), but that's often the case with new fantasy series. The beginning had some short sentences that made the pacing feel a little off, but it got much better as the book went on. The 5-6 POVs didn’t scare me (I come from the Zodiac academy's fiasco after all), though I can see how they might feel overwhelming to others.
Now, about the story—the setting reminded me of Holly Black’s Folk of the Air, which is one of my all-time favorites, so I was excited! But honestly, I could have done without the "at least he didn’t have a tail" comment. Don’t come for my boy Cardan like that! :D
There’s still a lot to learn about the world and magic system, but that’s expected for the first book in a fantasy series. It was a solid start, and I’m already eager for some answers. Also, I loved Aife—what a gem of a character!
The love story moved a bit too fast for my taste—I prefer my fantasy romances to be more of a slow burn. But with fated mates, I get it. At least there are other love stories in the background that I’ll definitely follow with interest.
Overall, a nice read! I’ll definitely check out the sequel.
Quotes:
"Dreams were when Aurelia lived. Her waking life was painfully uninteresting, devoid of color, but in dreams, even the bad ones, she came alive."
"She was just a woman. But history has always feared women."
P.s. There is also a glossary at the end!
3.5
You know a fantasy book means business when it starts with a pronunciation guide!
I need to be honest—it took me a while to get into the story (maybe until halfway through), but that's often the case with new fantasy series. The beginning had some short sentences that made the pacing feel a little off, but it got much better as the book went on. The 5-6 POVs didn’t scare me (I come from the Zodiac academy's fiasco after all), though I can see how they might feel overwhelming to others.
Now, about the story—the setting reminded me of Holly Black’s Folk of the Air, which is one of my all-time favorites, so I was excited! But honestly, I could have done without the "at least he didn’t have a tail" comment. Don’t come for my boy Cardan like that! :D
There’s still a lot to learn about the world and magic system, but that’s expected for the first book in a fantasy series. It was a solid start, and I’m already eager for some answers. Also, I loved Aife—what a gem of a character!
The love story moved a bit too fast for my taste—I prefer my fantasy romances to be more of a slow burn. But with fated mates, I get it. At least there are other love stories in the background that I’ll definitely follow with interest.
Overall, a nice read! I’ll definitely check out the sequel.
Quotes:
"Dreams were when Aurelia lived. Her waking life was painfully uninteresting, devoid of color, but in dreams, even the bad ones, she came alive."
"She was just a woman. But history has always feared women."
P.s. There is also a glossary at the end!
February 12, 2025
Absolutely obsessed! This book delivers everything I crave in a fae fantasy romance—rich world-building, morally grey characters, and a slow-burn romance that hurts in the best way. Sera Foxe’s writing is lush and immersive, making it impossible to put down. If you love powerful fae, deadly bargains, and an enemies-to-lovers dynamic with serious tension, this one’s a must-read!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 20, 2025
I just adore a story with a parallel magical world! Aurelia had a perfectly boring, human life until she feels the pull of a parallel world and a handsome, mysterious stranger of her dreams. Immersing myself in this world along with her was such an adventure! The characters were well developed and the plot flowed at a good pace. The ending felt a bit rushed, but I am invested and anxious to see where this story continues. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an ARC of this book. All opinions here are my own.
January 6, 2025
(Edit: I always fear that good authors will see some of my harsh reviews and feel terrible so I say, I am critiquing your book, not you as a person. There is so much more room for improvement. The bones are there to work with, there just needs to be a little more refining when it comes to your writing, worldbuilding, and characterization. Less formulaic fantasy romance and more your own. My utter respect to you author for having the ability to write a full length novel because I know they are not easy nor would I be able to write one either. Do not let my harsh review get you down or discourage you. Have faith in yourself and your ability to write an improved and truly good book.)
ARC Review
DNF @ 27%
*Sigh*
Perhaps I have moved on from the fantasy romance genre because every single book that I try to read seems the same. Same characters. Same plot. Same romance. Nothing new, all formulaic. This book is no exception.
I truly did want to like this book and I did try to at least finish 50% of it, but I was dragging my feet by 15% and I did not want to waste my time reading a book I wasn't enjoying or rolling my eyes at. The blurb is what interested me (I thought, finally! A unique plotline) and when I saw that it had not been released yet, I was like bummer!! But then I saw it was available on NetGalley and requested an ARC (Thank you NetGalley!!). So here I am.
I would usually say something good at this point, but I seriously did not like anything of the 27% of what I read.
The world building was not so great, it felt like it was all condensed into a single place, never moving or expanding. There was barely any true details about the fae world or the fae themselves. The only thing I got was that they were pointy eared "humans" so to speak since their immortality and all their powers and stuff (the things that make them faeries) were diminished. There was unnecessary curse words that cheapened the dialogue (If you have the creativity to write an entire fantasy book, I'm sure you can come up with creative curse words). The sentences were choppy at times, ruining the reading flow. Some of the conversations between the fae felt like I was listening to random human beings talk amongst themselves. You'd think as creatures of myth, the fae would have their own manner of speech, different to the modern human world (not using words like 'boyfriend'). I didn't care for the FMC or the MMC. The FMC and her "Boring and useless life that she is so bored of that she could die of boredom" like WE GET IT! Every time Aurelia's POV appeared, that is all she talked about, literally. I don't even remember much of Andar tbh or Lark, they were both that unmemorable. Didn't care about Nova either. So, disappointed and tired is what I am. Gah, I'm done.
Though this was not my cup of tea, don't let my words stop anyone from reading this book. It did not work for me, but it may work for you.
Thank you again to NetGalley for this ARC!!
ARC Review
DNF @ 27%
*Sigh*
Perhaps I have moved on from the fantasy romance genre because every single book that I try to read seems the same. Same characters. Same plot. Same romance. Nothing new, all formulaic. This book is no exception.
I truly did want to like this book and I did try to at least finish 50% of it, but I was dragging my feet by 15% and I did not want to waste my time reading a book I wasn't enjoying or rolling my eyes at. The blurb is what interested me (I thought, finally! A unique plotline) and when I saw that it had not been released yet, I was like bummer!! But then I saw it was available on NetGalley and requested an ARC (Thank you NetGalley!!). So here I am.
I would usually say something good at this point, but I seriously did not like anything of the 27% of what I read.
The world building was not so great, it felt like it was all condensed into a single place, never moving or expanding. There was barely any true details about the fae world or the fae themselves. The only thing I got was that they were pointy eared "humans" so to speak since their immortality and all their powers and stuff (the things that make them faeries) were diminished. There was unnecessary curse words that cheapened the dialogue (If you have the creativity to write an entire fantasy book, I'm sure you can come up with creative curse words). The sentences were choppy at times, ruining the reading flow. Some of the conversations between the fae felt like I was listening to random human beings talk amongst themselves. You'd think as creatures of myth, the fae would have their own manner of speech, different to the modern human world (not using words like 'boyfriend'). I didn't care for the FMC or the MMC. The FMC and her "Boring and useless life that she is so bored of that she could die of boredom" like WE GET IT! Every time Aurelia's POV appeared, that is all she talked about, literally. I don't even remember much of Andar tbh or Lark, they were both that unmemorable. Didn't care about Nova either. So, disappointed and tired is what I am. Gah, I'm done.
Though this was not my cup of tea, don't let my words stop anyone from reading this book. It did not work for me, but it may work for you.
Thank you again to NetGalley for this ARC!!
December 30, 2024
I received an ARC of Blood, Iron, and Bone by Sera Fox through NetGalley.
"Blood, Iron, and Bone" is a sweeping tale of fate and prophecy, where a mortal girl and a Fae prince find themselves drawn together by a mysterious call, a cursed sky, and a kingdom's last hope for salvation.
There were moments I absolutely loved and others where I found myself a bit confused, likely due to the third-person narrative and shifts between characters.
That said, the introduction was really exciting, and I was drawn in by the mystery surrounding the realms and dreams. Overall, I found the story engaging, and the final 20% really stood out for me - it was gripping and set the stage for the next book in the series beautifully.
"Blood, Iron, and Bone" is a sweeping tale of fate and prophecy, where a mortal girl and a Fae prince find themselves drawn together by a mysterious call, a cursed sky, and a kingdom's last hope for salvation.
There were moments I absolutely loved and others where I found myself a bit confused, likely due to the third-person narrative and shifts between characters.
That said, the introduction was really exciting, and I was drawn in by the mystery surrounding the realms and dreams. Overall, I found the story engaging, and the final 20% really stood out for me - it was gripping and set the stage for the next book in the series beautifully.
March 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Agency Press, and Sera Foxe for the ARC!
🎆 Fae
🎆 Multiple POVs
🎆 Fated Mates
🎆 Prophecies
🎆 Curse that must be broken
🎆 Found family
🎆 Steamy romance
This has been such a fun ride! The world-building felt so smooth, and the plot?! The drama and secrets?! I enjoyed it! It felt like a telenovela! Haha. As for the characters, there are plenty of them. We have 6 main characters (I like to think 3 pairs/couples. I'm crossing my fingers) and some interesting side characters, (eyeing you Aife & Ciorriathe) that I hope to learn more about. With that said, I think there wasn't much time for any of the characters to endear themselves to me, though I liked them. However, Nova is in the running place of becoming my standout or favorite character. It seemed she was the only functioning brain cell in their group, but with all the revelations happening, I can't blame the others for malfunctioning. Haha! I also like how the characters were written, they were so annoying sometimes that I wanted to grab in and shake them and at times, also hug them. Oh! I also enjoyed the funny pop culture references and a comedic break in some tense scenes.
Looking forward to Book 2!
🎆 Fae
🎆 Multiple POVs
🎆 Fated Mates
🎆 Prophecies
🎆 Curse that must be broken
🎆 Found family
🎆 Steamy romance
This has been such a fun ride! The world-building felt so smooth, and the plot?! The drama and secrets?! I enjoyed it! It felt like a telenovela! Haha. As for the characters, there are plenty of them. We have 6 main characters (I like to think 3 pairs/couples. I'm crossing my fingers) and some interesting side characters, (eyeing you Aife & Ciorriathe) that I hope to learn more about. With that said, I think there wasn't much time for any of the characters to endear themselves to me, though I liked them. However, Nova is in the running place of becoming my standout or favorite character. It seemed she was the only functioning brain cell in their group, but with all the revelations happening, I can't blame the others for malfunctioning. Haha! I also like how the characters were written, they were so annoying sometimes that I wanted to grab in and shake them and at times, also hug them. Oh! I also enjoyed the funny pop culture references and a comedic break in some tense scenes.
Looking forward to Book 2!
January 20, 2025
A Promising World Undermined by Repetition and Flat Characters
Blood Iron & Bone, the first book in The Lightbringers series, promises an epic tale of prophecy, duty, and the clash between mortal and eternal realms. While the blurb promised a thrilling fantasy story with high stakes, my reading experience left me with mixed feelings. There are a few standout moments, particularly in the world-building, but unfortunately the execution is lacking in several critical areas for me.
Blood Iron & Bone ♦ Sera Foxe — A Review
Opinion
The novel's multiple points of view (POVs) lured me into the realm of Áithrim and its rich prophesies. As someone who cherishes the authorial narrative perspective, I hoped that the shifting POVs would provide profound insight into the characters' feelings, desires, and origins. Unfortunately, this technique frequently failed. Instead of improving the plot, it added unnecessary details about events and exchanges. For example, significant events were recreated from multiple perspectives without adding meaningful new layers. This repetition slowed the pacing tremendously, making various sections of the book feel dragged out. Tightening these sections would have improved the flow and reduced the overall page count while preserving content.
By the time I got 35% through the book, my interest had waned, and I was skimming more frequently than necessary. The characters had an important role in this. Despite the book's large array of characters, I found it difficult to identify with or care about the majority of them. Even though the book's diverse cast, I struggled to connect with or care about many of the characters. I normally root for one or two characters, but the large number, I think it was six, of exposed personalities made it difficult to really delve into anyone's path. The lack of engaging, in-depth character development reduced the plot’s emotional stakes. I wanted to care about Aurelia's strange link to the prophecy and Andar's struggle with his fated mate, but their personalities were sometimes too weak or clichéd.
Nonetheless, the world-building merits respect. The story of Áithrim, the cursed skies, and the prophecy is well-written and compelling. The world felt alive, with magical systems, political intrigue, and history intertwined throughout the novel. I liked how the authors (behind the pen name Sera Foxe) placed the fantasy aspects in a unified mythos, which deepened the story’s bigger themes of fate and sacrifice. However, even this solid base was undermined by a lack of engaging personalities to inhabit it. Without a lively cast to explore a new world, the majesty of the environment was diminished.
The plot showed promise, but it wandered at times, with too many subplots contesting for attention. The basic conflict, which involved the fulfillment of the prophecy and the oncoming darkness, had the potential to be a thrilling adventure, but it was muddied by superfluous tangents and explanation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Blood Iron & Bone has some brilliant moments, particularly in its innovative and fresh world-building, the repetitive story framework and less fortunate characters kept it from reaching its full potential. For readers who prefer a well-crafted fantasy setting instead of a character-driven storytelling, this may be worth a try. I'm still undecided on whether to continue the series. The chances are slim and depend on whether future volumes in the series can address these faults and breathe new life into the characters and plot.
This review was first published at The Art of Reading.
Blood Iron & Bone, the first book in The Lightbringers series, promises an epic tale of prophecy, duty, and the clash between mortal and eternal realms. While the blurb promised a thrilling fantasy story with high stakes, my reading experience left me with mixed feelings. There are a few standout moments, particularly in the world-building, but unfortunately the execution is lacking in several critical areas for me.
Blood Iron & Bone ♦ Sera Foxe — A Review
Opinion
The novel's multiple points of view (POVs) lured me into the realm of Áithrim and its rich prophesies. As someone who cherishes the authorial narrative perspective, I hoped that the shifting POVs would provide profound insight into the characters' feelings, desires, and origins. Unfortunately, this technique frequently failed. Instead of improving the plot, it added unnecessary details about events and exchanges. For example, significant events were recreated from multiple perspectives without adding meaningful new layers. This repetition slowed the pacing tremendously, making various sections of the book feel dragged out. Tightening these sections would have improved the flow and reduced the overall page count while preserving content.
By the time I got 35% through the book, my interest had waned, and I was skimming more frequently than necessary. The characters had an important role in this. Despite the book's large array of characters, I found it difficult to identify with or care about the majority of them. Even though the book's diverse cast, I struggled to connect with or care about many of the characters. I normally root for one or two characters, but the large number, I think it was six, of exposed personalities made it difficult to really delve into anyone's path. The lack of engaging, in-depth character development reduced the plot’s emotional stakes. I wanted to care about Aurelia's strange link to the prophecy and Andar's struggle with his fated mate, but their personalities were sometimes too weak or clichéd.
Nonetheless, the world-building merits respect. The story of Áithrim, the cursed skies, and the prophecy is well-written and compelling. The world felt alive, with magical systems, political intrigue, and history intertwined throughout the novel. I liked how the authors (behind the pen name Sera Foxe) placed the fantasy aspects in a unified mythos, which deepened the story’s bigger themes of fate and sacrifice. However, even this solid base was undermined by a lack of engaging personalities to inhabit it. Without a lively cast to explore a new world, the majesty of the environment was diminished.
The plot showed promise, but it wandered at times, with too many subplots contesting for attention. The basic conflict, which involved the fulfillment of the prophecy and the oncoming darkness, had the potential to be a thrilling adventure, but it was muddied by superfluous tangents and explanation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Blood Iron & Bone has some brilliant moments, particularly in its innovative and fresh world-building, the repetitive story framework and less fortunate characters kept it from reaching its full potential. For readers who prefer a well-crafted fantasy setting instead of a character-driven storytelling, this may be worth a try. I'm still undecided on whether to continue the series. The chances are slim and depend on whether future volumes in the series can address these faults and breathe new life into the characters and plot.
This review was first published at The Art of Reading.
March 4, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of this book for an honest review!
★★★★★ because every once in a while I like to rate a book depending on the potential for the series and the amount of relatively hidden world-building in added chapters in between the main storyline 💌
I enjoyed the political aspects of the fantasy world and how there was a focus on the treatment of "mortals" in fae stories and tales in general.
★★★★★ because every once in a while I like to rate a book depending on the potential for the series and the amount of relatively hidden world-building in added chapters in between the main storyline 💌
I enjoyed the political aspects of the fantasy world and how there was a focus on the treatment of "mortals" in fae stories and tales in general.
The love that poured from the dream boy to her through the lightest touch of his full lips never faltered and she gave herself over to it.Honestly I enjoyed the multiple POVs and underlining storylines that could be developed in the later books in the series.
April 9, 2025
Blood Iron and Bone is a new, unique take on the fae romantasy genre, following a number of characters: Aurelia a girl from the human world in love with a man she’s never met; Ander, a fae from the Otherworld entrapped in a prophecy; Lark, princess of the Otherworld, betrothed to Andar; Nova a human slave to princess Lark; and Cillian, fae solider.
The story was a bit slow at first, the focus mainly on introducing the characters and the world, but once plot started to unravel all the previous ‘slowness’ was 100% worth it.
The story switches perspectives between the 5 main characters and follows the aftermath of human girl, Aurelia, entering the fae world and how her very existence turns the Otherworld upside down.
This slow burn, fated romance set in a fantasy world is sure to leave you craving for more. The second book can not come out quick enough. I can’t wait to see where this story goes in future books.
Update:
After finishing this book a few days ago and sitting with my thoughts and feelings, my rating has changed. I can not stop thinking about this world and the characters and the plot and i just want to be back in this world. This book is definitely one that stays with you and lingers in the back of your mind constantly.
Sera Foxe are incredibly talented writers and I can’t wait to see what else they write.
The story was a bit slow at first, the focus mainly on introducing the characters and the world, but once plot started to unravel all the previous ‘slowness’ was 100% worth it.
The story switches perspectives between the 5 main characters and follows the aftermath of human girl, Aurelia, entering the fae world and how her very existence turns the Otherworld upside down.
This slow burn, fated romance set in a fantasy world is sure to leave you craving for more. The second book can not come out quick enough. I can’t wait to see where this story goes in future books.
Update:
After finishing this book a few days ago and sitting with my thoughts and feelings, my rating has changed. I can not stop thinking about this world and the characters and the plot and i just want to be back in this world. This book is definitely one that stays with you and lingers in the back of your mind constantly.
Sera Foxe are incredibly talented writers and I can’t wait to see what else they write.
December 26, 2024
First thanks to NetGalley and agency press for giving me a chance to read this arc! First thing I love about this book it has a glossary! I also think when world building in a new series things sometimes tend to get lost and having this is a great refresher. Okay now about the book Andar my man you are a dreamy one!!!! This book did such a great job weaving in and out multiple povs and keeping you invested in them all. Now with all of the multiple povs it does get a bit tricky keeping the storylines with each in order, so make sure you aren’t too tired heheheh. This is a book that you should know going into it super heavy on the details and if that bugs you this might be a harder read for you for sure. I think it did a great job keeping you interested in the mystery of the story and I can’t wait to read book two to dive further into that.
December 30, 2024
Made it to 33%, skimmed until 70% and then officially gave up
Being physically with somebody while pretending you’re with somebody else is gross not my bag at all
Being physically with somebody while pretending you’re with somebody else is gross not my bag at all
March 25, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Agency Press for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
This was a straight 4 star read for me, a multiple POV mortal to fae slow romantasy with an intricate plot. This story had me at the very beginning from a heart pounding prologue filled with a lot of mystery and gore.
I really enjoyed our FMC Aurelia, who is stuck in the mortal lands until she comes face to face with a path that may lead her to places and people she’s only dreamt of. She is determined and stubborn and born for a life filled with *more* and she knows it. She has a lot of gumption and curiosity and is even able to fly by the seat of her pants. I loved watching her discover her surroundings and finding herself within the story. Our MMC, Andar, has a lot to parse through in this novel and I feel as though he is our white knight, a loyal protector - I hope to see more of his growth and arc in the next novels of the series!
The plot was ever winding, and with multiple POVs, we sometimes experience the same scene, the same moment, from the point of view of different characters. This can make the novel feel a little cumbersome but it does give important details and insight into the characters. The plot and the intricacies and mysteries within were something I deeply enjoyed and am excited to see more of in the next installments of the series. Each point of view starts off somewhat separate and then converges together and it was so satisfying to read through that. I was worried that I’d find it hard to track each perspective, however, it felt easy for me to read and keep track of!
I also enjoyed the writing for the most part, but felt that some parts were a little prolonged and redundant and that there are many different “parts” and interludes to the story, whereas I would have preferred to see it in 3 larger segments instead of 8 or so smaller splits to the story. Even still, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment in a large manner.
Overall, I enjoyed this and would definitely love to read the next book when it comes out. I would recommend it to any romantasy reader who loves a *hot* slow burn romantasy with a mysterious curse and many moving parts to a story!
This was a straight 4 star read for me, a multiple POV mortal to fae slow romantasy with an intricate plot. This story had me at the very beginning from a heart pounding prologue filled with a lot of mystery and gore.
I really enjoyed our FMC Aurelia, who is stuck in the mortal lands until she comes face to face with a path that may lead her to places and people she’s only dreamt of. She is determined and stubborn and born for a life filled with *more* and she knows it. She has a lot of gumption and curiosity and is even able to fly by the seat of her pants. I loved watching her discover her surroundings and finding herself within the story. Our MMC, Andar, has a lot to parse through in this novel and I feel as though he is our white knight, a loyal protector - I hope to see more of his growth and arc in the next novels of the series!
The plot was ever winding, and with multiple POVs, we sometimes experience the same scene, the same moment, from the point of view of different characters. This can make the novel feel a little cumbersome but it does give important details and insight into the characters. The plot and the intricacies and mysteries within were something I deeply enjoyed and am excited to see more of in the next installments of the series. Each point of view starts off somewhat separate and then converges together and it was so satisfying to read through that. I was worried that I’d find it hard to track each perspective, however, it felt easy for me to read and keep track of!
I also enjoyed the writing for the most part, but felt that some parts were a little prolonged and redundant and that there are many different “parts” and interludes to the story, whereas I would have preferred to see it in 3 larger segments instead of 8 or so smaller splits to the story. Even still, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment in a large manner.
Overall, I enjoyed this and would definitely love to read the next book when it comes out. I would recommend it to any romantasy reader who loves a *hot* slow burn romantasy with a mysterious curse and many moving parts to a story!
March 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher & the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Blood Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe is here to drag you headfirst into a world of prophecies, fae, and so many POVs you might need a spreadsheet. This is the kind of book that doesn’t just ask for your attention—it DEMANDS it, twists it into a pretzel, and then rewards you with a rich, sprawling story that will have you flipping pages like your life depends on it.
We start with Aurelia, a mortal girl who hears a strange call in the night—and instead of doing the REASONABLE thing and ignoring it, she follows. Meanwhile, Andar, a fae prince, is stuck in a betrothal to the future High Queen of Áithrim, a politically perfect match that feels deeply wrong. But destiny has bigger plans, because as darkness looms over both realms, a tangled web of fae, humans, and ancient magic starts pulling them all together.
Now, let’s talk about the many POVs. This book gives us six different perspectives, which means you’ll either love the depth it brings or feel like you’re playing a very intense game of character bingo. (Personally, I was living for the complexity, even if I had to pause occasionally to reorient myself.) The world-building? Absolutely lush. If you love epic fantasies with layered politics, dangerous magic, and an unfolding mystery that keeps you JUST on the edge of understanding, this book has you covered.
That said, the writing style takes a minute to settle into. The story felt a bit dense at first, but once you hit part two, everything clicks into place, and the pacing picks up like a runaway carriage!
Final verdict? If The Bridge Kingdom, The Serpent & The Wings of Night, and Throne of Glass had a slow-burn, high-stakes fantasy baby, it would be Blood Iron and Bone. It’s ambitious, immersive, and packed with morally gray characters making terrible (but fascinating) decisions. If you love court intrigue, fae drama, and just a hint of impending doom, this one belongs on your TBR!
We start with Aurelia, a mortal girl who hears a strange call in the night—and instead of doing the REASONABLE thing and ignoring it, she follows. Meanwhile, Andar, a fae prince, is stuck in a betrothal to the future High Queen of Áithrim, a politically perfect match that feels deeply wrong. But destiny has bigger plans, because as darkness looms over both realms, a tangled web of fae, humans, and ancient magic starts pulling them all together.
Now, let’s talk about the many POVs. This book gives us six different perspectives, which means you’ll either love the depth it brings or feel like you’re playing a very intense game of character bingo. (Personally, I was living for the complexity, even if I had to pause occasionally to reorient myself.) The world-building? Absolutely lush. If you love epic fantasies with layered politics, dangerous magic, and an unfolding mystery that keeps you JUST on the edge of understanding, this book has you covered.
That said, the writing style takes a minute to settle into. The story felt a bit dense at first, but once you hit part two, everything clicks into place, and the pacing picks up like a runaway carriage!
Final verdict? If The Bridge Kingdom, The Serpent & The Wings of Night, and Throne of Glass had a slow-burn, high-stakes fantasy baby, it would be Blood Iron and Bone. It’s ambitious, immersive, and packed with morally gray characters making terrible (but fascinating) decisions. If you love court intrigue, fae drama, and just a hint of impending doom, this one belongs on your TBR!
March 27, 2025
Thank you Sera Foxe,The Agency Press Collective and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read the eARC of Blood, Iron & Bone.
I loved the premise of the book - there is so much potential for an incredible series. I really wanted to love it as it had a lot of the tropes I normally love and thoroughly enjoy in books. With some fine-tuning, this could really be an incredible book.
~Plot~
I struggled with grasping the plot for the majority of this book - I would say it really only picked up at around the 60% mark. The beginning of the book started off very slow; there was a lot of flashbacks, where I couldn’t easily differentiate between where it started and when it ended. I also felt like a lot of the flashbacks didn’t add much essence to the plot. Maybe if they were formatted to even be written in italics to make it easier to discern from the “now” would be helpful!
The pacing definitely felt disjointed and hard to follow, especially with so many POVs in 3rd person. I usually don’t mind the use of 3rd person, but there was a lot of internal monologues, which took away from that; at one stage it was hard to discern who’s it was when all the characters were in the same space. I understand the author was trying to convey each character’s thoughts and feelings to inform the reader but it got confusing. I think if the books focused on maybe 2-3 POVs would allow the story to shine and heighten the emotional depth.
Also, this whole book takes place in essentially the space of 2 days ?? That was wild to me; I feel like so much of what happened in the plot would’ve needed so much more planning to execute accordingly.
One thing I found very unique, that I don’t think I have read or come across in a book yet, is the idea of the women speaking a prophesy for each child that they give birth to - this is a really intriguing take on the “ fated “ aspect of many books and this really stood out to me.
~Writing~
Unfortunately, I found I struggled the most with the writing. I personally feel like it lacked depth and complexity; it seemed very surface level. I also couldn’t get on with the use of common internet slang or more modern language and phrases, such as references to Harry Potter, quotes from the Wizard of Oz, or the phrase “ Boomer “. I get that Aurelia grew up in quentisentially our world, but it’s a personal pet peeve to read common slang in a book dubbed as fantasy. Even in the Fae realm, soldiers were using “mate” as an informal way to refer to each other, which threw me off.
~World Building~
I found the world building to be the stronger point of this book; you’re provided with a lot of background information and knowledge about the ins and outs of the world in the book. I did like the Celtic/Irish links, but again, some Irish phrases were used that I personally feel like should’ve been explored more, or maybe the importance of the Celtic lore and background.
I do feel like the battle scenes and any action happened very quickly and ended abruptly; if it was explored in more depth it would definitely make a bigger impact. The climax of the story should have been dragged out a bit more in my opinion.
~Characters~
I actually really enjoy the Motley Crew that are all the characters - there’s a lot of variety which adds essence to the story, where each character seems just as important as the others. However, I couldn’t personally connect with any of them at a deep level - a lot of major events/reveals I feel like were completely brushed over and not explored enough to provide an emotional impact/shock factor. It just seemed like the characters had no chance to grieve or try to piece together the revelations that were happening; I would definitely focus on that more if possible.
I actually enjoyed Nova’s character the most - she showed the most resilience and courage and complexity in the circumstances she was put in, and I hope that continues into the series and doesn’t get overshadowed by the role of the other characters.
I couldn’t connect with Lark - she seemed quite selfish and very “woe is me”, even in the circumstances she found herself in, she really only thought about herself.
I do find myself intrigued with Aife, she seemed to know a lot more than she lets on, but again, I couldn’t make a connection with her because she really popped into the plot at random times when it was convenient.
There are formatting, grammar & editing issues throughout the book but considering that it's an ARC, hopefully they'll be caught & corrected.
In conclusion, I don't want to discourage anybody from reading this book, as everyone is different! There are plenty of 4/5 reviews for this book, so it just seems very subjective! You may find the complete opposite to what I found and felt, and it could become your new favourite series!
Overall I really do love the premise of this story and I encourage other readers to give it a shot. I look forward to seeing how Sera grows as an author, as this is a debut, therefore there is always time and room for exceptional growth!
I loved the premise of the book - there is so much potential for an incredible series. I really wanted to love it as it had a lot of the tropes I normally love and thoroughly enjoy in books. With some fine-tuning, this could really be an incredible book.
~Plot~
I struggled with grasping the plot for the majority of this book - I would say it really only picked up at around the 60% mark. The beginning of the book started off very slow; there was a lot of flashbacks, where I couldn’t easily differentiate between where it started and when it ended. I also felt like a lot of the flashbacks didn’t add much essence to the plot. Maybe if they were formatted to even be written in italics to make it easier to discern from the “now” would be helpful!
The pacing definitely felt disjointed and hard to follow, especially with so many POVs in 3rd person. I usually don’t mind the use of 3rd person, but there was a lot of internal monologues, which took away from that; at one stage it was hard to discern who’s it was when all the characters were in the same space. I understand the author was trying to convey each character’s thoughts and feelings to inform the reader but it got confusing. I think if the books focused on maybe 2-3 POVs would allow the story to shine and heighten the emotional depth.
Also, this whole book takes place in essentially the space of 2 days ?? That was wild to me; I feel like so much of what happened in the plot would’ve needed so much more planning to execute accordingly.
One thing I found very unique, that I don’t think I have read or come across in a book yet, is the idea of the women speaking a prophesy for each child that they give birth to - this is a really intriguing take on the “ fated “ aspect of many books and this really stood out to me.
~Writing~
Unfortunately, I found I struggled the most with the writing. I personally feel like it lacked depth and complexity; it seemed very surface level. I also couldn’t get on with the use of common internet slang or more modern language and phrases, such as references to Harry Potter, quotes from the Wizard of Oz, or the phrase “ Boomer “. I get that Aurelia grew up in quentisentially our world, but it’s a personal pet peeve to read common slang in a book dubbed as fantasy. Even in the Fae realm, soldiers were using “mate” as an informal way to refer to each other, which threw me off.
~World Building~
I found the world building to be the stronger point of this book; you’re provided with a lot of background information and knowledge about the ins and outs of the world in the book. I did like the Celtic/Irish links, but again, some Irish phrases were used that I personally feel like should’ve been explored more, or maybe the importance of the Celtic lore and background.
I do feel like the battle scenes and any action happened very quickly and ended abruptly; if it was explored in more depth it would definitely make a bigger impact. The climax of the story should have been dragged out a bit more in my opinion.
~Characters~
I actually really enjoy the Motley Crew that are all the characters - there’s a lot of variety which adds essence to the story, where each character seems just as important as the others. However, I couldn’t personally connect with any of them at a deep level - a lot of major events/reveals I feel like were completely brushed over and not explored enough to provide an emotional impact/shock factor. It just seemed like the characters had no chance to grieve or try to piece together the revelations that were happening; I would definitely focus on that more if possible.
I actually enjoyed Nova’s character the most - she showed the most resilience and courage and complexity in the circumstances she was put in, and I hope that continues into the series and doesn’t get overshadowed by the role of the other characters.
I couldn’t connect with Lark - she seemed quite selfish and very “woe is me”, even in the circumstances she found herself in, she really only thought about herself.
I do find myself intrigued with Aife, she seemed to know a lot more than she lets on, but again, I couldn’t make a connection with her because she really popped into the plot at random times when it was convenient.
There are formatting, grammar & editing issues throughout the book but considering that it's an ARC, hopefully they'll be caught & corrected.
In conclusion, I don't want to discourage anybody from reading this book, as everyone is different! There are plenty of 4/5 reviews for this book, so it just seems very subjective! You may find the complete opposite to what I found and felt, and it could become your new favourite series!
Overall I really do love the premise of this story and I encourage other readers to give it a shot. I look forward to seeing how Sera grows as an author, as this is a debut, therefore there is always time and room for exceptional growth!
March 7, 2025
*Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC and ofc to Sera Foxe*
This book was a total trip at first I was so confused, an Then baaam everything conects, and Then there's different POV's, and my Brain was like who tf Is talking now I had to re-start the chapters sometimes haha but During the passage of the story I was so intrigued to understand what was happening with so many Secrets and misunderstandings ....
Then there were the entries of the book of Maw and I was like what Is happening right now and then boom she's a scribe and when she talks to Nova about their pasts.... I gagged bc she remembers When no one is supposed to do it
I had a serious problem with Andar's mom I wanted to slap that biatch 🤡🤡 YOU CAN'T MANIPULATE DESTINY CIAROTHE 👹👹👹
Anyway I loveeeeeedddd Nova and Killian omg they're so good characters 🩷
Buuuut I think even if it's destiny.... The relationship of Aurelia and Andar was so rushed 😭😭😭 I mean I love that man but it's only been like 72 hours and a lot was happening ay the Time 🫠🫠🫠
To conclude, I loved the book and everything it includes, but my rating is 4 stars because of the urgency of the relationship between Aurelia and Andar.
I'm already looking forward to the book coming out. 🤌🏼🤌🏼
This book was a total trip at first I was so confused, an Then baaam everything conects, and Then there's different POV's, and my Brain was like who tf Is talking now I had to re-start the chapters sometimes haha but During the passage of the story I was so intrigued to understand what was happening with so many Secrets and misunderstandings ....
Then there were the entries of the book of Maw and I was like what Is happening right now and then boom she's a scribe and when she talks to Nova about their pasts.... I gagged bc she remembers When no one is supposed to do it
I had a serious problem with Andar's mom I wanted to slap that biatch 🤡🤡 YOU CAN'T MANIPULATE DESTINY CIAROTHE 👹👹👹
Anyway I loveeeeeedddd Nova and Killian omg they're so good characters 🩷
Buuuut I think even if it's destiny.... The relationship of Aurelia and Andar was so rushed 😭😭😭 I mean I love that man but it's only been like 72 hours and a lot was happening ay the Time 🫠🫠🫠
To conclude, I loved the book and everything it includes, but my rating is 4 stars because of the urgency of the relationship between Aurelia and Andar.
I'm already looking forward to the book coming out. 🤌🏼🤌🏼
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Agency Press for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Blood, Iron and Bone is a fantasy romance book with a very interesting premise. I really enjoyed the mystery behind each of the character’s fates and how they intertwined and I thought the birth prophecies were a very interesting aspect of the story. The Fae world is very fleshed out and we get a lot of insight into the politics of the world between the different clans of Fae and humans. Our four main characters, Andar, Lark, Aureila and Cillian were all very different from each other. I really enjoyed their banter and how they interacted with each other.
While this book had a lot of promise, I struggled my way to the 60% mark, it was very slow up until that point. The book features six different POVs which alternate during each chapter through the third person narrative. I found this to be very hard to follow and it took a lot of brain power while reading to keep up with everything. There was also a lot of jumping between timelines at the beginning of the book which also made it hard to get into.
Aside from the pacing, the other big issue I had with this book was the use of the Irish Language, while I completely understand wanting to create your own fantasy language based off of another language, I found it very jarring to see Irish words and phrases used in strange context or mistranslated. This is purely my preference when reading and most people-especially those who do not speak Irish-won’t even notice this, it is something that just takes me out of a story. .
I’m very interested to see where things go in the next instalment of the book, there's a lot of groundwork done and I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out.
If you enjoy fated mates, prophecies, multiple POVs and an Irish based fantasy world, you will love this debut!
Blood, Iron and Bone is a fantasy romance book with a very interesting premise. I really enjoyed the mystery behind each of the character’s fates and how they intertwined and I thought the birth prophecies were a very interesting aspect of the story. The Fae world is very fleshed out and we get a lot of insight into the politics of the world between the different clans of Fae and humans. Our four main characters, Andar, Lark, Aureila and Cillian were all very different from each other. I really enjoyed their banter and how they interacted with each other.
While this book had a lot of promise, I struggled my way to the 60% mark, it was very slow up until that point. The book features six different POVs which alternate during each chapter through the third person narrative. I found this to be very hard to follow and it took a lot of brain power while reading to keep up with everything. There was also a lot of jumping between timelines at the beginning of the book which also made it hard to get into.
Aside from the pacing, the other big issue I had with this book was the use of the Irish Language, while I completely understand wanting to create your own fantasy language based off of another language, I found it very jarring to see Irish words and phrases used in strange context or mistranslated. This is purely my preference when reading and most people-especially those who do not speak Irish-won’t even notice this, it is something that just takes me out of a story. .
I’m very interested to see where things go in the next instalment of the book, there's a lot of groundwork done and I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out.
If you enjoy fated mates, prophecies, multiple POVs and an Irish based fantasy world, you will love this debut!
February 2, 2025
Blood Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe is about a kingdom on the edge of being taken over by darkness and the only way to rid of it is through a prophecy of a boy and a girl born on the same night. But what if the fated couple is not the right one?
I was very excited to receive the ARC for this book just based on the plot. However, the book just fell flat for me. I normally don't care if a book is written in 3rd person, but it just did not pan out well here. The pacing is very slow and a big part of that is due to the over descriptive, passive writing. Not a lot happened in the first 40% of the book, which is where I decided to DNF it, and barely any conversation. We were majority of the time in one of the characters thoughts. The characters seemed very simple, which is weird as many of them are from the Otherworld. Speaking of characters, there are 6 POVs in this story and to be honest, I don't think I even got to read about all of them.
I have seen reviews that it gets better towards the end, but I just can't get myself to spend more time on the story when the first 40% has not hooked me. It could very well be a personal preference and this book is just not for me. This would be a great book for someone who loves books with a lot of details. and multi-POV.
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was very excited to receive the ARC for this book just based on the plot. However, the book just fell flat for me. I normally don't care if a book is written in 3rd person, but it just did not pan out well here. The pacing is very slow and a big part of that is due to the over descriptive, passive writing. Not a lot happened in the first 40% of the book, which is where I decided to DNF it, and barely any conversation. We were majority of the time in one of the characters thoughts. The characters seemed very simple, which is weird as many of them are from the Otherworld. Speaking of characters, there are 6 POVs in this story and to be honest, I don't think I even got to read about all of them.
I have seen reviews that it gets better towards the end, but I just can't get myself to spend more time on the story when the first 40% has not hooked me. It could very well be a personal preference and this book is just not for me. This would be a great book for someone who loves books with a lot of details. and multi-POV.
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2025
I am a fan of how the Fae and Human worlds meld in books. Using Quicksilver, ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, and GILD book series as sources to reference points, I am putting a lot of value on this book. Let us start off with the good points: Lark and Andar are very well established characters having been childhood friends to lovers mold, that without creating a spoilers, is ill-fated with Lark constantly fighting against the "dreams" she keeps having telling her that Andar is not her mate. Aurelia adds adds a layer suspense as the human thrown into the Fae world and enters as the linchpin factor between the love that Andar has for Lark, that she doesn't share for him. It is certainly worth it for the reader to enter the entanglement of the three characters and see how the puzzle and the "prophecy" are all unraveled.
Here is the only bad point for me: it is a very slow build over the course of the book. Before you scorn me over this information, I don't think this is a horrible thing. I have taken my bad view of the slow build from my time with Throne of Glass series, but it's certainly something you need to be aware of. When you reach the end of this book, the build-up is well worth all of the slow building. I will look forward to what Sera Foxe does with the future books in this series. Whether this is a duology, trilogy, or multi-book series, this series has a lot going for it.
Here is the only bad point for me: it is a very slow build over the course of the book. Before you scorn me over this information, I don't think this is a horrible thing. I have taken my bad view of the slow build from my time with Throne of Glass series, but it's certainly something you need to be aware of. When you reach the end of this book, the build-up is well worth all of the slow building. I will look forward to what Sera Foxe does with the future books in this series. Whether this is a duology, trilogy, or multi-book series, this series has a lot going for it.
March 28, 2025
✨📚 I was so excited to review this Fantasy Romance ARC, and it definitely paid off!! Thank you NetGalley and Sera Foxe!!
I loved the milti-POVs and condensed timeline.
So many things happen in just 6 days!
The character development and relationships are incredible.
The plot twists and turns have left me wanting more.
Slow burn
Fated Mates
Fae / Human Worlds
I am so excited for the next book, and to continue this journey!
I loved the milti-POVs and condensed timeline.
So many things happen in just 6 days!
The character development and relationships are incredible.
The plot twists and turns have left me wanting more.
Slow burn
Fated Mates
Fae / Human Worlds
I am so excited for the next book, and to continue this journey!
February 23, 2025
ARC - PUBLICATION DATE 21ST MARCH 2025
this book hurt my brain, but in a satisfying way! there are 6 different POVs and honestly for the first half of the book, i was just winging it. it was quite hard to follow to begin with but once you get to grips with it, it becomes easier to follow.
this fae world is COMPLICATED, if you want an easy, fast paced fantasy book to read, this might not be for you, but i would definitely recommend reading it! the world building and writing is so unique and complex and will have you constantly thinking “wtf” but in the best way.
the romance is a subplot but it is fated mates which is just, mwah, chef’s kiss for me, so i enjoyed that subplot.
this book hurt my brain, but in a satisfying way! there are 6 different POVs and honestly for the first half of the book, i was just winging it. it was quite hard to follow to begin with but once you get to grips with it, it becomes easier to follow.
this fae world is COMPLICATED, if you want an easy, fast paced fantasy book to read, this might not be for you, but i would definitely recommend reading it! the world building and writing is so unique and complex and will have you constantly thinking “wtf” but in the best way.
the romance is a subplot but it is fated mates which is just, mwah, chef’s kiss for me, so i enjoyed that subplot.
February 4, 2025
I really enjoyed reading the ARC of Blood Iron and Bone! I think some readers may have a difficult time from the jump, as the writing style is a very fluid 3rd person. Each character has their own unique voice but we can jump into any persons thoughts and actions at any point in a chapter. For me, that wasn’t a deal breaker, but there was certainly a learning curve.
Some selling points:
1. PRONUNCIATION GUIDES AND GLOSSARY - I’m unequivocally a huge fan of a glossary and pronunciation guides in books. Why all big fantasy books don’t have them is beyond me.
2. There is really imaginative world building that doesn’t feel beside the plot. You are learning with the characters in a way that makes sense with the story.
3. There is a mystery element. Throughout the book you know something big is coming but how that occurs is a mystery and has you sitting at the edge of your seat.
Things that may put you off:
1. There are dream and flashback sequences that happen in the middle of some chapters without a clear delineation between present time and past event, so that can be hard to parse.
2. I think one of the primary romances deserved to be fleshed out more. Without spoiling anything, I think there should be more dialogue between those two characters to make a more compelling romance (this is something I except will be fleshed out in future books in the series).
Overall, definitely recommend to my fellow fantasy readers and looking forward to future releases from the duo known as Sera Foxe!
Some selling points:
1. PRONUNCIATION GUIDES AND GLOSSARY - I’m unequivocally a huge fan of a glossary and pronunciation guides in books. Why all big fantasy books don’t have them is beyond me.
2. There is really imaginative world building that doesn’t feel beside the plot. You are learning with the characters in a way that makes sense with the story.
3. There is a mystery element. Throughout the book you know something big is coming but how that occurs is a mystery and has you sitting at the edge of your seat.
Things that may put you off:
1. There are dream and flashback sequences that happen in the middle of some chapters without a clear delineation between present time and past event, so that can be hard to parse.
2. I think one of the primary romances deserved to be fleshed out more. Without spoiling anything, I think there should be more dialogue between those two characters to make a more compelling romance (this is something I except will be fleshed out in future books in the series).
Overall, definitely recommend to my fellow fantasy readers and looking forward to future releases from the duo known as Sera Foxe!
January 2, 2025
Blood Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe is an engaging and fast-paced fantasy novel that captivated me from the first page. Set against a richly developed world, the story unfolds in a single day, yet it feels complete and satisfying, an impressive feat for any author.
The pacing of the book is spot on. Despite the entire storyline taking place over the course of just one day, Foxe keeps the tension high and the plot moving forward without ever feeling rushed. This gives the book an exciting immediacy, while still allowing time for deep character development and world building.
One of the highlights of Blood Iron and Bone is the magic system. Foxe has created an intricate and unique system that feels fresh and immersive, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the plot. It’s evident that a lot of thought has gone into the world building, making it easy for readers to get lost in the universe she’s created.
The characters are another strength of the story. Each one feels distinct and well crafted, with their own motivations and personalities that add depth to the story. I particularly adored the furry companions, Pan and Greymalkin, two characters who steal the show with their charm and antics. Delightful addition to the story, and brings an air of mystery and allure.
The first book wraps up its storyline in a way that is both conclusive and satisfying, leaving just enough room for further exploration in the next installment. I was left feeling fulfilled, but also eagerly anticipating the sequel to see what new twists and turns Foxe has in store.
Overall, I highly recommend Blood Iron and Bone to fans of fantasy who enjoy rich world building, dynamic characters, and a well paced, action packed plot. The book delivers on all fronts, and I’m excited to continue the journey in the next book. A big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this fantastic book!
The pacing of the book is spot on. Despite the entire storyline taking place over the course of just one day, Foxe keeps the tension high and the plot moving forward without ever feeling rushed. This gives the book an exciting immediacy, while still allowing time for deep character development and world building.
One of the highlights of Blood Iron and Bone is the magic system. Foxe has created an intricate and unique system that feels fresh and immersive, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the plot. It’s evident that a lot of thought has gone into the world building, making it easy for readers to get lost in the universe she’s created.
The characters are another strength of the story. Each one feels distinct and well crafted, with their own motivations and personalities that add depth to the story. I particularly adored the furry companions, Pan and Greymalkin, two characters who steal the show with their charm and antics. Delightful addition to the story, and brings an air of mystery and allure.
The first book wraps up its storyline in a way that is both conclusive and satisfying, leaving just enough room for further exploration in the next installment. I was left feeling fulfilled, but also eagerly anticipating the sequel to see what new twists and turns Foxe has in store.
Overall, I highly recommend Blood Iron and Bone to fans of fantasy who enjoy rich world building, dynamic characters, and a well paced, action packed plot. The book delivers on all fronts, and I’m excited to continue the journey in the next book. A big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this fantastic book!
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