In Blood We Trust: part of The Cursed & The Chosen collection

by Rachel Roy, WolfGirl Designs (Illustrator)

In a world where power is measured in blood, trust is the most dangerous currency of all.

In the shadows, where the boundary between human and supernatural blurs, an unlikely bond begins to form. Emily, a determined journalist, arrives with a single goal—to uncover the truth about how mortals and mythical beings coexist. Skeptical yet relentless, she is determined to expose the reality behind the whispers of the night.

Viktor, a centuries-old vampire with a quiet soul and a deep reverence for life, is tasked with guiding her through his hidden world. As he welcomes Emily into the darkness he calls home, she sees not a monster, but a man who has lived too long in solitude. Their connection deepens, defying the fears that divide their species.

But when tragedy strikes, Viktor is consumed by vengeance, his gentle nature eclipsed by a thirst for retribution. In his pursuit of justice, he uncovers a dark secret buried within his own past—a revelation that ties him to a destiny he never foresaw. As the ancient Drowned Gods stir once more, threatening to reshape the world, Viktor must face a will his love bridge the divide between the worlds, or will the secrets of the past remain forever hidden in the abyss?

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2025

About the author

Rachel has grown up and lived most of her life in the rural area of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. This rugged landscape raises hardworking independent people and Rachel is no different. Married to a millwright, Rachel has taught Humanities and freelance writes while running their hobby homestead. Four children and their extra curricular activities spread across four schools (middle school to college) keep the family busy.

Reviews

[Ninssss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one caught me off guard—in a good way. The worldbuilding? So good. I loved the whole vibe of paranormals (vampires, fae, demons, mermaids, etc) living alongside humans, plus those god references sprinkled in. It made the world feel bigger without overexplaining everything.

There was a twist I didn’t see coming at all, and honestly… I was lowkey hoping for more time, more THEM—but I kinda respect that the story chose reality over fantasy. Not everything gets a perfect ending.

Viktor’s growth really stood out. The way he handled things in the end? Mature, selfless, and honestly made me like him even more. I just wish we had a bit more time with him and Emily—more connection, more tension. But hey, life doesn’t always play fair.

Quick read, emotionally loaded, and definitely worth picking up if you’re into paranormal with heart.