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Empyreal #2
A Masterpiece in Blood
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26Perfect for fans of A Discovery of Witches and Serpent & Dove, this sequel to the sizzling dark romantasy The Temptation of Magic follows fated mates Nicole and Kyan as they attempt to root out the secrets at the heart of a shadowy supernatural organization.
Nicole and Kyan are playing a dangerous game.
Nicole is on the run, hiding from The Wake as she attempts to track down her mother’s last artistic clue and the truth of her death.
Kyan is pretending to still be The Wake’s loyal Empyreal assassin, even though his feelings for Nicole—and the mate bond that ties them together—have changed everything.
Separated, yet determined to be together, Nicole and Kyan must embark on a quest that will take them from the most powerful Vampire in England, to ancient Celtic treasures, and lost Druid sites.
Meanwhile, the Wake sees all, and the Wild Hunt is stirring.
As Nicole and Kyan get close to the dark secrets at the root of the organization, they court complete destruction—of themselves, each other, and all they hold dear.
Nicole and Kyan are playing a dangerous game.
Nicole is on the run, hiding from The Wake as she attempts to track down her mother’s last artistic clue and the truth of her death.
Kyan is pretending to still be The Wake’s loyal Empyreal assassin, even though his feelings for Nicole—and the mate bond that ties them together—have changed everything.
Separated, yet determined to be together, Nicole and Kyan must embark on a quest that will take them from the most powerful Vampire in England, to ancient Celtic treasures, and lost Druid sites.
Meanwhile, the Wake sees all, and the Wild Hunt is stirring.
As Nicole and Kyan get close to the dark secrets at the root of the organization, they court complete destruction—of themselves, each other, and all they hold dear.
646 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2026
About the author
Megan Scott
3 books358 followersMegan Scott is the Sunday Times Bestselling romance and fantasy author from the North West of England.
Her debut for upper YA, THE TEMPTATION OF MAGIC, is a contemporary fantasy romance published in 2024 with HarperCollins in the UK and US, beginning the EMPYREAL trilogy.
She studied Art History and Classical Civilisation at university and masters level, looking at depictions of myth in nineteenth century art which still inspire her novels.
When she’s not writing or on Pinterest, she’s trying to read as much as her nana, falling more in love with romance books, or paint something she doesn’t want to ceremoniously burn in the garden.
You can find her on:
Instagram: @meganscott_writer
TikTok: @meganscott_writer
Her debut for upper YA, THE TEMPTATION OF MAGIC, is a contemporary fantasy romance published in 2024 with HarperCollins in the UK and US, beginning the EMPYREAL trilogy.
She studied Art History and Classical Civilisation at university and masters level, looking at depictions of myth in nineteenth century art which still inspire her novels.
When she’s not writing or on Pinterest, she’s trying to read as much as her nana, falling more in love with romance books, or paint something she doesn’t want to ceremoniously burn in the garden.
You can find her on:
Instagram: @meganscott_writer
TikTok: @meganscott_writer
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
August 7, 2026
An absolute INCREDIBLE follow up to The Temptation of Magic! The plot is notched up even further and Megan has done such an incredible job at making us care for all of the characters. In this book we get to know the side characters even more, creating the opportunity to fall in love with them even deeper! I feel so invested in all of their individual stories. To me this series is criminally underrated!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
.ೃ࿐ Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Collins for the opportunity to read and review the ARC before release! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3 ★
ੈ✩‧₊˚ my thoughts
I don’t think this series is meant for me as a reader.
A Masterpiece in Blood had all the ingredients of a book I should have loved: dark magic, mystery, and high stakes. But in the end, it was more enjoyable than memorable for me.
The atmosphere was easily my favorite part of the story. Megan Scott does a great job creating a dark, intriguing setting filled with secrets and tension. The mystery kept me turning pages, and I was invested in discovering how everything would come together. However, I wasn't a fan of the six-month time jump at the beginning of the book. It felt like I had missed an important part of the characters' journeys, and it took me a while to adjust to the new status quo. Because so much development happened off-page, it was harder to connect with some of the relationships and characters for me.
I also found myself still struggling with the world-building at times. While the concepts were fascinating, I often wanted more explanation and depth to fully understand the rules of the world and the magic system, especially as the world expanded in this sequel. Because of that, some plot developments felt a little rushed, and I wasn't always as emotionally invested as I wanted to be.
The characters were likable enough, but I never formed a strong connection with them. The relationships had potential, yet some interactions felt underdeveloped, making it difficult for the emotional moments to land as strongly as intended.
Overall, A Masterpiece in Blood was a solid read with an engaging premise, a compelling atmosphere, and plenty of intrigue. While it didn't completely work for me, I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy dark fantasy with mystery elements. I'm glad I read it, but I was left wishing for a bit more depth and development to make it truly stand out.
-`♡´- Happy reading! Belle
─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ୨୧ ──── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──── ୨୧ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─
୨୧➛ post-read ── .✦
meh. I’m not convinced by this series. I’m sure it’s perfect for other readers, but not for me
full rtc
.ೃ࿐ pre-read .ೃ࿐
decided to jump right into book 2 with the arc, because if i don't i don't think i'll end up picking it up 🫣
3 ★
ੈ✩‧₊˚ my thoughts
I don’t think this series is meant for me as a reader.
A Masterpiece in Blood had all the ingredients of a book I should have loved: dark magic, mystery, and high stakes. But in the end, it was more enjoyable than memorable for me.
The atmosphere was easily my favorite part of the story. Megan Scott does a great job creating a dark, intriguing setting filled with secrets and tension. The mystery kept me turning pages, and I was invested in discovering how everything would come together. However, I wasn't a fan of the six-month time jump at the beginning of the book. It felt like I had missed an important part of the characters' journeys, and it took me a while to adjust to the new status quo. Because so much development happened off-page, it was harder to connect with some of the relationships and characters for me.
I also found myself still struggling with the world-building at times. While the concepts were fascinating, I often wanted more explanation and depth to fully understand the rules of the world and the magic system, especially as the world expanded in this sequel. Because of that, some plot developments felt a little rushed, and I wasn't always as emotionally invested as I wanted to be.
The characters were likable enough, but I never formed a strong connection with them. The relationships had potential, yet some interactions felt underdeveloped, making it difficult for the emotional moments to land as strongly as intended.
Overall, A Masterpiece in Blood was a solid read with an engaging premise, a compelling atmosphere, and plenty of intrigue. While it didn't completely work for me, I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy dark fantasy with mystery elements. I'm glad I read it, but I was left wishing for a bit more depth and development to make it truly stand out.
-`♡´- Happy reading! Belle
─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ୨୧ ──── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──── ୨୧ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─
୨୧➛ post-read ── .✦
meh. I’m not convinced by this series. I’m sure it’s perfect for other readers, but not for me
full rtc
.ೃ࿐ pre-read .ೃ࿐
decided to jump right into book 2 with the arc, because if i don't i don't think i'll end up picking it up 🫣
paused
December 14, 2024I NEED THIS IN MY HANDS ASAP🥹
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Finally writing this review after reading in June!
A phenomenal second installment! The world building and character development completely blew me away. The romance between Kyan and Nicole was my favorite aspect of TTOM, and while it continued to meet all my expectations in AMOB, I found that I mainly could not put this down because of the constant stream of revelations. Every new secret they uncovered, particularly the truth behind the wake’s real history, kept me completely invested and constantly questioning what would be revealed next.
There were moments where the pacing felt slower than I would have preferred, and the story occasionally seemed to lose some momentum. However, whenever the plot picked back up, it did so at full speed so it ended up working out.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for the eARC!
A phenomenal second installment! The world building and character development completely blew me away. The romance between Kyan and Nicole was my favorite aspect of TTOM, and while it continued to meet all my expectations in AMOB, I found that I mainly could not put this down because of the constant stream of revelations. Every new secret they uncovered, particularly the truth behind the wake’s real history, kept me completely invested and constantly questioning what would be revealed next.
There were moments where the pacing felt slower than I would have preferred, and the story occasionally seemed to lose some momentum. However, whenever the plot picked back up, it did so at full speed so it ended up working out.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for the eARC!
Want to Read
November 18, 2024Please don’t let 2026 be the actual release date. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 I won’t last that long.
June 27, 2026
I thought the first book in this series had a great mix of nostalgic elements from the YA-era of 2010, but still had a unique feeling with fresh elements, especially the magical art. I looked forward to reading the sequel.
Unfortunately, I didn’t feel as invested this time around. A lot of the elements that made the first book so intriguing is missing. The book starts out with a six-month time jump that made me feel disconnected to the story, because we missed so much that are only told to the reader and not shown.
The magical art isn’t as present, instead the focus lays on the sketchy operation The Wake. And while it does have some interesting elements, it delivers a different feeling than the first book.
This book also features one of my biggest pet peeves; adding more POV in later installments. If I haven’t established a bond with these characters from their POV in the first book that made me want to continue the series, I just find these chapters to be a distraction from the story I expected and wanted to read. If an author chose to do this, I will almost always rate the book lower than the previous one.
I could see myself giving the next book a try despite not enjoying this one fully.
Unfortunately, I didn’t feel as invested this time around. A lot of the elements that made the first book so intriguing is missing. The book starts out with a six-month time jump that made me feel disconnected to the story, because we missed so much that are only told to the reader and not shown.
The magical art isn’t as present, instead the focus lays on the sketchy operation The Wake. And while it does have some interesting elements, it delivers a different feeling than the first book.
This book also features one of my biggest pet peeves; adding more POV in later installments. If I haven’t established a bond with these characters from their POV in the first book that made me want to continue the series, I just find these chapters to be a distraction from the story I expected and wanted to read. If an author chose to do this, I will almost always rate the book lower than the previous one.
I could see myself giving the next book a try despite not enjoying this one fully.
June 8, 2026
Booksta Link✨
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
Series: Empyreal Trilogy #2
Themes & Tropes: Fated Mates, Celtic Mythology & Lore, Mystery & Intrigue, Forbidden Romance, Hidden Clues in Art, Gods & Demons, Hidden Identities, Secret Conspiracies, Urban Fantasy Romance, Slow Burn Romance, Touch Her and Die, Murder Mystery Elements, Artistic Prose.
Summary:
A Masterpiece in Blood was my most anticipated release of the year, and somehow it exceeded every expectation I had. Yes, there is a lot happening. The scope of the story expands dramatically, the mysteries deepen, and the stakes become impossibly high. But at its heart, this remains a story about family, love, truth, and the people willing to risk everything to protect one another.
I adore these characters. I adore this world. I adore the mythology, the mystery, and the romance. Most of all, I adore Megan’s writing, which feels like a work of art in its own right - something that deserves to be framed and displayed in a museum for everyone to experience in it’s glory.
This was a phenomenal sequel, an emotional rollercoaster, and one of my favourite reads of the year so far. Now excuse me while I desperately wait for book three and attempt to recover from that ending!
Plot:
The first thing you’ll notice going into A Masterpiece in Blood is the six-month time jump. Initially, I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about it - I wanted everything!!! However, once I settled into the story, I genuinely couldn’t imagine the book any other way. Megan manages to organically remind readers of the events from book one without relying on a lengthy recap chapter, while also using Nicole’s lingering questions to mirror many of the questions we as readers still have.
Book two significantly expands the scope of the story, introducing several interconnected plotlines.
Nicole continues unraveling the clues left behind by her mother, particularly those hidden within her mother’s portrait. This was the central mystery of book one, and seeing it branch into something much larger felt like a natural progression. No longer confined to Eastwood, Nicole and her family find themselves once again on the run from the Wake, desperately trying to stay hidden while piecing together the truth.
At the same time, Remi begins investigating the mysteries surrounding the legendary Harp, the second divine artifact needed to challenge the Wake’s growing power. We also follow Kyan as he searches for answers regarding the increasingly common hybrid creatures appearing throughout the world, the truth behind Nicole’s mother’s murder, and the sudden reappearance of the Druids - his long-dead ancestors. Meanwhile, Dylan’s storyline quietly unfolds in the background as he struggles to recover memories surrounding his mother’s death.
There is undeniably a lot happening in this sequel, and I can understand why some readers may find it overwhelming at first. It’s a significant step up from book one, which focused primarily on Nicole’s mother’s clues and the central murder mystery. However, every thread ultimately ties back to the same question: who truly controls the Wake? What is the deeper conspiracy working in the background? And let me tell you— the answers are worth the wait.
Not only do we finally uncover the truth behind the Wake’s leadership, but we also receive long-awaited answers regarding Nicole’s father’s powers that were hinted at in the ending of book one. I did not see any of it coming!
Megan has a talent for weaving together seemingly unrelated threads until everything clicks into place. The final stretch of this book is absolutely relentless, filled with revelations, impossible choices, and high-stakes moments that left my heart racing.
And that ending? I finished this book on a flight and was genuinely sitting there in tears. The cliffhanger didn’t just end the story—it emotionally finished me.
One of my favourite additions was the expanded POV structure. We spend more time with Nicole’s entire family, including Ronan, Bell, and Dylan, which gives the story so much additional depth and emotional weight.
World Building:
One of the biggest strengths of A Masterpiece in Blood is how much it expands the world introduced in TTOM. For the first time, we move beyond Eastwood and venture into London and Ireland, opening the door to an entirely new level of mythology, lore, and magical creatures. Dragons. Vampires. Hybrids created by the Wake. And several other creatures I’m intentionally avoiding mentioning because discovering them was part of the fun.
At first glance, the amount of world-building may seem intimidating. However, it makes perfect sense within the context of the story. Nicole and her family spent years hidden away in Eastwood, meaning readers were naturally limited in what they could learn about the wider world. Now those doors have been thrown open.
What continues to impress me most is Megan’s use of Celtic mythology as the foundation of the world. The mythology never feels superficial or decorative—it feels deeply embedded into the story’s DNA. Every new piece of lore had me completely invested, and by the end of the book I was seriously considering booking a ticket to Ireland.
Characters:
One of the greatest joys of this sequel is spending more time with the wider cast. The additional POV chapters allow us to finally learn more about characters like Ronan and Callum, both of whom raised countless questions in book one. And somehow? Megan answered those questions in ways I never would have predicted.
Callum in particular became a standout for me. His friendship with Kyan is one of my favourite relationships in the series, and their interactions consistently brought some much-needed humour and heart to the story. We also spend more time with Remi and her Siren heritage. There is one chapter near the end of the book involving Remi that completely broke me. Watching Nicole’s fierce love for her best friend and seeing the lengths she’d go to protect her had me openly crying.
As for Nicole and Kyan, I somehow love them even more now than I did in book one. Nicole’s growth throughout this book is incredible. Having finally embraced her Empyreal nature after years of resisting it, she’s forced to reckon with what that power means—not just for herself, but for everyone she loves. Watching those changes manifest in both subtle and significant ways was fascinating. Kyan’s journey is equally compelling. He continues questioning everything he’s ever been taught by the Wake while confronting hidden truths about his family, his history, and himself. Both characters experience tremendous growth individually, but some of their strongest moments come when they’re forced into impossible situations together. Nicole remains endlessly curious, intelligent, and driven by her love of art, history, and truth. Kyan remains the fierce protector struggling to reconcile the person he’s been told to be with the person he’s becoming. I could happily read hundreds more books about these two.
Romance:
The yearning. THE. YEARNING. When I say I love slow-burn romance, this is exactly what I mean. Megan understands that slow burn isn’t about withholding romance—it’s about building anticipation until every interaction feels electric. The tension between Nicole and Kyan in this book is absolutely unreal. Every glance. Every touch. Every protective instinct. Every moment of vulnerability. I was losing my mind.
And the spice. After the ending of book one, I expected things to progress, but Megan absolutely delivered. I was unwell. Nicole was unwell. We were all unwell. And yes, Kyan snapping someone’s neck while looking directly at Nicole may genuinely be one of the sexiest things I have ever read in a book, period.
I don’t make the rules. He’s officially secured the number two spot on my fictional boyfriend ranking (shoutout to Arin of Nizhal.)
Writing:
Megan’s writing continues to be one of my favourite aspects of this series. The artistic prose isn’t limited to discussions of paintings or galleries—it extends into every aspect of the story. Landscapes feel like artwork. Cities feel like artwork. Even moments of devastation are written with a strange, beautiful elegance. There is something incredibly distinctive about Megan’s voice as an author. I honestly struggle to compare her writing to anyone else’s because it feels entirely her own.
Every page feels intentional. Every description feels vivid. Every emotional moment lands exactly where it’s meant to. Considering The Temptation of Magic and A Masterpiece in Blood are her first published works, I’m still completely blown away by what she’s accomplished.
I cannot thank Harper Collins for the advanced copy via NetGalley!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
Series: Empyreal Trilogy #2
Themes & Tropes: Fated Mates, Celtic Mythology & Lore, Mystery & Intrigue, Forbidden Romance, Hidden Clues in Art, Gods & Demons, Hidden Identities, Secret Conspiracies, Urban Fantasy Romance, Slow Burn Romance, Touch Her and Die, Murder Mystery Elements, Artistic Prose.
Summary:
A Masterpiece in Blood was my most anticipated release of the year, and somehow it exceeded every expectation I had. Yes, there is a lot happening. The scope of the story expands dramatically, the mysteries deepen, and the stakes become impossibly high. But at its heart, this remains a story about family, love, truth, and the people willing to risk everything to protect one another.
I adore these characters. I adore this world. I adore the mythology, the mystery, and the romance. Most of all, I adore Megan’s writing, which feels like a work of art in its own right - something that deserves to be framed and displayed in a museum for everyone to experience in it’s glory.
This was a phenomenal sequel, an emotional rollercoaster, and one of my favourite reads of the year so far. Now excuse me while I desperately wait for book three and attempt to recover from that ending!
Plot:
The first thing you’ll notice going into A Masterpiece in Blood is the six-month time jump. Initially, I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about it - I wanted everything!!! However, once I settled into the story, I genuinely couldn’t imagine the book any other way. Megan manages to organically remind readers of the events from book one without relying on a lengthy recap chapter, while also using Nicole’s lingering questions to mirror many of the questions we as readers still have.
Book two significantly expands the scope of the story, introducing several interconnected plotlines.
Nicole continues unraveling the clues left behind by her mother, particularly those hidden within her mother’s portrait. This was the central mystery of book one, and seeing it branch into something much larger felt like a natural progression. No longer confined to Eastwood, Nicole and her family find themselves once again on the run from the Wake, desperately trying to stay hidden while piecing together the truth.
At the same time, Remi begins investigating the mysteries surrounding the legendary Harp, the second divine artifact needed to challenge the Wake’s growing power. We also follow Kyan as he searches for answers regarding the increasingly common hybrid creatures appearing throughout the world, the truth behind Nicole’s mother’s murder, and the sudden reappearance of the Druids - his long-dead ancestors. Meanwhile, Dylan’s storyline quietly unfolds in the background as he struggles to recover memories surrounding his mother’s death.
There is undeniably a lot happening in this sequel, and I can understand why some readers may find it overwhelming at first. It’s a significant step up from book one, which focused primarily on Nicole’s mother’s clues and the central murder mystery. However, every thread ultimately ties back to the same question: who truly controls the Wake? What is the deeper conspiracy working in the background? And let me tell you— the answers are worth the wait.
Not only do we finally uncover the truth behind the Wake’s leadership, but we also receive long-awaited answers regarding Nicole’s father’s powers that were hinted at in the ending of book one. I did not see any of it coming!
Megan has a talent for weaving together seemingly unrelated threads until everything clicks into place. The final stretch of this book is absolutely relentless, filled with revelations, impossible choices, and high-stakes moments that left my heart racing.
And that ending? I finished this book on a flight and was genuinely sitting there in tears. The cliffhanger didn’t just end the story—it emotionally finished me.
One of my favourite additions was the expanded POV structure. We spend more time with Nicole’s entire family, including Ronan, Bell, and Dylan, which gives the story so much additional depth and emotional weight.
World Building:
One of the biggest strengths of A Masterpiece in Blood is how much it expands the world introduced in TTOM. For the first time, we move beyond Eastwood and venture into London and Ireland, opening the door to an entirely new level of mythology, lore, and magical creatures. Dragons. Vampires. Hybrids created by the Wake. And several other creatures I’m intentionally avoiding mentioning because discovering them was part of the fun.
At first glance, the amount of world-building may seem intimidating. However, it makes perfect sense within the context of the story. Nicole and her family spent years hidden away in Eastwood, meaning readers were naturally limited in what they could learn about the wider world. Now those doors have been thrown open.
What continues to impress me most is Megan’s use of Celtic mythology as the foundation of the world. The mythology never feels superficial or decorative—it feels deeply embedded into the story’s DNA. Every new piece of lore had me completely invested, and by the end of the book I was seriously considering booking a ticket to Ireland.
Characters:
One of the greatest joys of this sequel is spending more time with the wider cast. The additional POV chapters allow us to finally learn more about characters like Ronan and Callum, both of whom raised countless questions in book one. And somehow? Megan answered those questions in ways I never would have predicted.
Callum in particular became a standout for me. His friendship with Kyan is one of my favourite relationships in the series, and their interactions consistently brought some much-needed humour and heart to the story. We also spend more time with Remi and her Siren heritage. There is one chapter near the end of the book involving Remi that completely broke me. Watching Nicole’s fierce love for her best friend and seeing the lengths she’d go to protect her had me openly crying.
As for Nicole and Kyan, I somehow love them even more now than I did in book one. Nicole’s growth throughout this book is incredible. Having finally embraced her Empyreal nature after years of resisting it, she’s forced to reckon with what that power means—not just for herself, but for everyone she loves. Watching those changes manifest in both subtle and significant ways was fascinating. Kyan’s journey is equally compelling. He continues questioning everything he’s ever been taught by the Wake while confronting hidden truths about his family, his history, and himself. Both characters experience tremendous growth individually, but some of their strongest moments come when they’re forced into impossible situations together. Nicole remains endlessly curious, intelligent, and driven by her love of art, history, and truth. Kyan remains the fierce protector struggling to reconcile the person he’s been told to be with the person he’s becoming. I could happily read hundreds more books about these two.
Romance:
The yearning. THE. YEARNING. When I say I love slow-burn romance, this is exactly what I mean. Megan understands that slow burn isn’t about withholding romance—it’s about building anticipation until every interaction feels electric. The tension between Nicole and Kyan in this book is absolutely unreal. Every glance. Every touch. Every protective instinct. Every moment of vulnerability. I was losing my mind.
And the spice. After the ending of book one, I expected things to progress, but Megan absolutely delivered. I was unwell. Nicole was unwell. We were all unwell. And yes, Kyan snapping someone’s neck while looking directly at Nicole may genuinely be one of the sexiest things I have ever read in a book, period.
I don’t make the rules. He’s officially secured the number two spot on my fictional boyfriend ranking (shoutout to Arin of Nizhal.)
Writing:
Megan’s writing continues to be one of my favourite aspects of this series. The artistic prose isn’t limited to discussions of paintings or galleries—it extends into every aspect of the story. Landscapes feel like artwork. Cities feel like artwork. Even moments of devastation are written with a strange, beautiful elegance. There is something incredibly distinctive about Megan’s voice as an author. I honestly struggle to compare her writing to anyone else’s because it feels entirely her own.
Every page feels intentional. Every description feels vivid. Every emotional moment lands exactly where it’s meant to. Considering The Temptation of Magic and A Masterpiece in Blood are her first published works, I’m still completely blown away by what she’s accomplished.
I cannot thank Harper Collins for the advanced copy via NetGalley!
June 25, 2026
A Masterpiece in Blood was everything I hoped for after the first book and more. One of my favourite parts of this installment was getting more perspectives woven into the story. Seeing things through different characters’ eyes added so much depth and gave the narrative a richer, more complete feeling. I especially loved getting to know the side characters more intimately, their stories, motivations, and personalities were explored in a way that really helped flesh out the narrative from what we experienced in book one.
The romance between Kyan and Nicole continues to be one of my favourite parts of the series. I absolutely adore the pacing of their relationship. While certain tropes could easily lean into an insta-love feeling, Megan Scott handles their connection so well that it still feels like a true slow burn. There’s a natural progression to their bond, and the build-up makes every moment between them feel earned.
The Celtic and Irish mythology is also what truly sets this series apart for me. I love how seamlessly Megan Scott has woven these elements into the story, it feels intentional, immersive, and like such an important part of the world rather than just an added detail. The way the mythology has expanded has completely pulled me further into the series, and after that ending, I am beyond excited to see where she takes it next.
This series is quickly becoming something special for me, and A Masterpiece in Blood has solidified that it could easily become an all-time favourite read. I cannot wait for more.
The romance between Kyan and Nicole continues to be one of my favourite parts of the series. I absolutely adore the pacing of their relationship. While certain tropes could easily lean into an insta-love feeling, Megan Scott handles their connection so well that it still feels like a true slow burn. There’s a natural progression to their bond, and the build-up makes every moment between them feel earned.
The Celtic and Irish mythology is also what truly sets this series apart for me. I love how seamlessly Megan Scott has woven these elements into the story, it feels intentional, immersive, and like such an important part of the world rather than just an added detail. The way the mythology has expanded has completely pulled me further into the series, and after that ending, I am beyond excited to see where she takes it next.
This series is quickly becoming something special for me, and A Masterpiece in Blood has solidified that it could easily become an all-time favourite read. I cannot wait for more.
June 27, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for approving me to read this, rating 4.25 stars.
What a follow up to book 1! I feel like so much changes in book 2 and the secrets upon secrets it reveals had me hooked. I still feel like we have more to discover which is wild.
I still adore the romantic sub plot between our main characters, it’s so fiery and deep, these two characters feel like the force behind how all the characters keep things moving and figuring things out despite how bleak things look at times. The clues and mystery surrounding freya grows and I’m not sure how nicoles family will recover after the end. I’m locked in for the next book because what do you mean book 2 ended like that???
What a follow up to book 1! I feel like so much changes in book 2 and the secrets upon secrets it reveals had me hooked. I still feel like we have more to discover which is wild.
I still adore the romantic sub plot between our main characters, it’s so fiery and deep, these two characters feel like the force behind how all the characters keep things moving and figuring things out despite how bleak things look at times. The clues and mystery surrounding freya grows and I’m not sure how nicoles family will recover after the end. I’m locked in for the next book because what do you mean book 2 ended like that???
Want to Read
December 15, 20242026?!? please say it aint sooooo
May 10, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this eArc.
When I first read The Temptation of Magic I knew that it would slowly work its way to one of my all time favourite reads. The second I knew that A Masterpiece in Blood was coming out, I knew I had to read it - and I currently have 2 copies on pre order - but I am so grateful to have been given the chance to read this as an ARC too.
I LOVE Kyan and Nicole as people, as if they were 2 people that I had been friends with and was finally starting to see them grow into who they were meant to be - and I have to remind myself regularly that they are, in fact, characters of a book.
The multiple perspectives between Bells, Dylan, Kyan, Nicole, and another (who I won't name for fear of spoiling it) just adds extra to the storyline and the overarching development of these people and who they are working to be.
We find out The Wake is worse than we could have imagined, but the determination of 'The Family' is inspiring. The way they band together, act as a true family, a support network is comforting and is something that just adds extra to the overall development of the story and the characters.
I couldn't get enough of the intimacy between Nicole and Kyan, the respectfulness but also the HEAT. the ONE BED. the alone in a CABIN!? Urgh you have hit some of my favourite tropes!
I will say nothing else on the story, except for this, HOW COULD YOU LEAVE IT LIKE THAT!!! My soul is a little bit sad right now and I need time to recover.
When I first read The Temptation of Magic I knew that it would slowly work its way to one of my all time favourite reads. The second I knew that A Masterpiece in Blood was coming out, I knew I had to read it - and I currently have 2 copies on pre order - but I am so grateful to have been given the chance to read this as an ARC too.
I LOVE Kyan and Nicole as people, as if they were 2 people that I had been friends with and was finally starting to see them grow into who they were meant to be - and I have to remind myself regularly that they are, in fact, characters of a book.
The multiple perspectives between Bells, Dylan, Kyan, Nicole, and another (who I won't name for fear of spoiling it) just adds extra to the storyline and the overarching development of these people and who they are working to be.
We find out The Wake is worse than we could have imagined, but the determination of 'The Family' is inspiring. The way they band together, act as a true family, a support network is comforting and is something that just adds extra to the overall development of the story and the characters.
I couldn't get enough of the intimacy between Nicole and Kyan, the respectfulness but also the HEAT. the ONE BED. the alone in a CABIN!? Urgh you have hit some of my favourite tropes!
I will say nothing else on the story, except for this, HOW COULD YOU LEAVE IT LIKE THAT!!! My soul is a little bit sad right now and I need time to recover.
May 9, 2026
What the fuck???? I need the sequel RIGHT NOW
The tension and slow burn had me literally so frustrated it was written so well
Megan has such a way with nuance and detail in her writing I love this so much
The tension and slow burn had me literally so frustrated it was written so well
Megan has such a way with nuance and detail in her writing I love this so much
September 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this earc
Welcome back to second book syndrome.
There were few things I enjoyed in this book, like mention of real places and objects (as someone who’s been to Trinity College Library, it was very cool to see it here). Made the story feel more grounded.
I also liked how much the art was important to the plot. It’s not easy to use art history as a tool. But I also can see how many people won’t be able to connect to it.
The first half of this was pretty slow. Once we got past that point, things started to pick up but it got us to the part that annoyed me the most. That every single character was SPECIAL. I can take the main FMC and MMC. I can even agree with their families. But everyone? The best friends too?
Give one human. Just one. And because they are all special, obviously nobody died. Which kind of makes no sense.
Overall, this book under delivered
Welcome back to second book syndrome.
There were few things I enjoyed in this book, like mention of real places and objects (as someone who’s been to Trinity College Library, it was very cool to see it here). Made the story feel more grounded.
I also liked how much the art was important to the plot. It’s not easy to use art history as a tool. But I also can see how many people won’t be able to connect to it.
The first half of this was pretty slow. Once we got past that point, things started to pick up but it got us to the part that annoyed me the most. That every single character was SPECIAL. I can take the main FMC and MMC. I can even agree with their families. But everyone? The best friends too?
Give one human. Just one. And because they are all special, obviously nobody died. Which kind of makes no sense.
Overall, this book under delivered
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2026
I had enjoyed book one a lot but I was worried about one of the tropes in this one and unfortunately it didn’t work for me. While in book one I had really enjoyed the mystery aspects and magic system rather than the love story, in this one I didn’t love the pacing of the plot. I did think that the last 100 pages really twisted the story and I enjoyed the ending, but I think this might not be the series for me. Unfortunately neither of the MCs were interesting, Nicole a tad more than Kyan. I was more interested in the side characters than the main storyline.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2026
5 stars.
This sequel was INCREDIBLE!!! The plot, the characters, the complexities of everyone's relationships, the romance, the YEARNING, the Irish folklore... This installment truly expands after book 1 and for the better. We get a lot of answers to many questions, some twists that left me gasping, action at the end that left me on the edge of my seat, and an ending that was criminal with the cliffhanger it leaves on (but I loved how it ends, I can't wait to see what Megan Scott has in store for these characters in book 3!!).
Above all, what truly stole the show for me was the romance between Nicole and Kyan. Their love is so beautiful, the tension between them was exquisite and the intimate moments between these two felt really vulnerable and added depth to their story and their romance.
I cannot recommend this series enough!
This sequel was INCREDIBLE!!! The plot, the characters, the complexities of everyone's relationships, the romance, the YEARNING, the Irish folklore... This installment truly expands after book 1 and for the better. We get a lot of answers to many questions, some twists that left me gasping, action at the end that left me on the edge of my seat, and an ending that was criminal with the cliffhanger it leaves on (but I loved how it ends, I can't wait to see what Megan Scott has in store for these characters in book 3!!).
Above all, what truly stole the show for me was the romance between Nicole and Kyan. Their love is so beautiful, the tension between them was exquisite and the intimate moments between these two felt really vulnerable and added depth to their story and their romance.
I cannot recommend this series enough!
Did Not Finish
August 21, 2026Unfortunately it's prob not the right time for me, it's so much talking and info and I'm getting married and can't emerse myself in it enough. I don't think it works well on audio either because I feel as if it jumps around a lot.
July 2, 2026
I was expecting this sequel so much but i was quite disappointed about it
But it felt so long, why did we get a time jump, that was so unnecessary because it felt like we missed a lot of stuff.
I liked the main relationship in the first book but why did i feel like it seemed with a lot of interactions forced???
I dont know what to say, it was enjoyable but i am not sure after a month i will remember anything about it.
I am severely underwhelmed
Thank you to the publisher for the arc
But it felt so long, why did we get a time jump, that was so unnecessary because it felt like we missed a lot of stuff.
I liked the main relationship in the first book but why did i feel like it seemed with a lot of interactions forced???
I dont know what to say, it was enjoyable but i am not sure after a month i will remember anything about it.
I am severely underwhelmed
Thank you to the publisher for the arc
July 26, 2026
The universe, the creatures, the characters, the writing!! Megan Scott gave us the perfect sequel to A Temptation of Magic and I really need the third book right now!!
It is hard to write how this series make me feel. I love it so much and is growing to be a favorite of mine.
First of all this book continues right after the ending of book one. I really appreciate this since I don’t always enjoy a big time skip between books. We keep following the amazing characters we got introduced to in book 1. We even got 1 more POV in this book which I felt fit into the story very well.
I absolutly adore all the supernatural creatures we get to meet in this series. I think it was exiting to learn more about «the wake» and follow Kyan more as he is working for them. I also really enjoy how the supernatural aspects intertwine with art in this series and I have never read anything like it! I enjoyed how The Wild Hunt is a part of the story and it made me interested to read more books with it!
Also the romance in this series is perfection! We got a slow burn romance. It is hunter x hunded and it is so so slow! I think they have a really good chemistry and we really got to see the atraction between them grow throug both book 1 and 2!
There was some really good twists in here and I had no idea about any of them so I was shocked more then once! The ending have me craving the next book and it will be hard to wait for it! I recommend this to anyone who enjoy YA fantasy of any kind!
It is hard to write how this series make me feel. I love it so much and is growing to be a favorite of mine.
First of all this book continues right after the ending of book one. I really appreciate this since I don’t always enjoy a big time skip between books. We keep following the amazing characters we got introduced to in book 1. We even got 1 more POV in this book which I felt fit into the story very well.
I absolutly adore all the supernatural creatures we get to meet in this series. I think it was exiting to learn more about «the wake» and follow Kyan more as he is working for them. I also really enjoy how the supernatural aspects intertwine with art in this series and I have never read anything like it! I enjoyed how The Wild Hunt is a part of the story and it made me interested to read more books with it!
Also the romance in this series is perfection! We got a slow burn romance. It is hunter x hunded and it is so so slow! I think they have a really good chemistry and we really got to see the atraction between them grow throug both book 1 and 2!
There was some really good twists in here and I had no idea about any of them so I was shocked more then once! The ending have me craving the next book and it will be hard to wait for it! I recommend this to anyone who enjoy YA fantasy of any kind!
May 10, 2026
3 ✰
↳ eARC
Blood hides more secrets than it reveals.
After enjoying the first book, I was really looking forward to A Masterpiece in Blood. Even though I had a good time reading it and still really enjoyed certain aspects, this second book unfortunately left less of an impression on me.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is clearly its worldbuilding. The lore remains just as interesting and immersive, especially everything related to the creatures and the overall atmosphere of the story. You can really feel that the world is carefully crafted and has its own identity.
I also enjoyed several plot twists and revelations. Some of them were well executed and managed to reignite my interest in the story at key moments. However, I found the pacing quite uneven. The plot takes a long time to truly move forward at the beginning, and some parts felt rather slow. At times, certain elements or reflections became a bit repetitive, which slowed down the reading experience even more.
I also think what I missed the most in this book was perhaps more action or emotional intensity. Even though the story remains interesting, I didn’t feel the same level of attachment or obsession that I had with the first book. There was less of that tension or spark that made me want to keep turning the pages.
Despite that, it was still an enjoyable read with a strong universe and interesting ideas. I’m still looking forward to reading the sequel!
───── ｡⋆ 🩸 ⋆｡ ─────
•Secrets
•Mystery
•Urban fantasy
•Found family
•Dark academia vibes
•Irish myths
•Hunt
•Art & magic
જ⁀➴ Thank you to the author, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for this eARC <3
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
3 ✰
↳ service de presse numérique
Le sang cache plus de secrets qu’il n’en révèle.
Après avoir apprécié le premier tome, j’attendais avec impatience A masterpiece in blood . Même si j’ai passé un bon moment et que certains aspects m’ont encore beaucoup plu, ce deuxième tome m’a malheureusement moins marquée.
L’un des points forts du livre reste clairement son univers. Le lore est toujours aussi intéressant et immersif, notamment tout ce qui touche aux créatures et à l’ambiance du récit. On sent que l’univers est travaillé et possède sa propre identité.
J’ai également apprécié plusieurs rebondissements et retournements de situation. Certains étaient bien amenés et réussissaient à relancer l’intérêt de l’intrigue à des moments clés. Cependant, j’ai trouvé que le rythme était assez inégal. Le début de l’intrigue met beaucoup de temps à avancer et certaines parties m’ont semblé longues. Par moments, certains éléments ou réflexions se répétaient un peu ce qui ralentissait un peu la lecture.
Je pense aussi que ce qui m’a le plus manqué dans ce tome, c’est peut-être davantage d’action ou d’intensité émotionnelle. Même si l’histoire reste intéressante, je n’ai pas ressenti le même niveau d’accroche ou d’obsession que pour le premier tome. Il y avait moins cette tension ou cette étincelle qui me donnait envie d’enchaîner les chapitres.
Malgré cela, ça reste une lecture agréable avec un univers toujours aussi solide et des idées intéressantes. J’ai tout de même hâte de lire la suite !
───── ｡⋆ 🩸 ⋆｡ ─────
•Secrets
•Mystère
•Fantaisie urbaine
•Found family
•Dark academia vibes
•Mythes irlandais
•Chasse
•Art et magie
↳ eARC
Blood hides more secrets than it reveals.
After enjoying the first book, I was really looking forward to A Masterpiece in Blood. Even though I had a good time reading it and still really enjoyed certain aspects, this second book unfortunately left less of an impression on me.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is clearly its worldbuilding. The lore remains just as interesting and immersive, especially everything related to the creatures and the overall atmosphere of the story. You can really feel that the world is carefully crafted and has its own identity.
I also enjoyed several plot twists and revelations. Some of them were well executed and managed to reignite my interest in the story at key moments. However, I found the pacing quite uneven. The plot takes a long time to truly move forward at the beginning, and some parts felt rather slow. At times, certain elements or reflections became a bit repetitive, which slowed down the reading experience even more.
I also think what I missed the most in this book was perhaps more action or emotional intensity. Even though the story remains interesting, I didn’t feel the same level of attachment or obsession that I had with the first book. There was less of that tension or spark that made me want to keep turning the pages.
Despite that, it was still an enjoyable read with a strong universe and interesting ideas. I’m still looking forward to reading the sequel!
───── ｡⋆ 🩸 ⋆｡ ─────
•Secrets
•Mystery
•Urban fantasy
•Found family
•Dark academia vibes
•Irish myths
•Hunt
•Art & magic
જ⁀➴ Thank you to the author, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for this eARC <3
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
3 ✰
↳ service de presse numérique
Le sang cache plus de secrets qu’il n’en révèle.
Après avoir apprécié le premier tome, j’attendais avec impatience A masterpiece in blood . Même si j’ai passé un bon moment et que certains aspects m’ont encore beaucoup plu, ce deuxième tome m’a malheureusement moins marquée.
L’un des points forts du livre reste clairement son univers. Le lore est toujours aussi intéressant et immersif, notamment tout ce qui touche aux créatures et à l’ambiance du récit. On sent que l’univers est travaillé et possède sa propre identité.
J’ai également apprécié plusieurs rebondissements et retournements de situation. Certains étaient bien amenés et réussissaient à relancer l’intérêt de l’intrigue à des moments clés. Cependant, j’ai trouvé que le rythme était assez inégal. Le début de l’intrigue met beaucoup de temps à avancer et certaines parties m’ont semblé longues. Par moments, certains éléments ou réflexions se répétaient un peu ce qui ralentissait un peu la lecture.
Je pense aussi que ce qui m’a le plus manqué dans ce tome, c’est peut-être davantage d’action ou d’intensité émotionnelle. Même si l’histoire reste intéressante, je n’ai pas ressenti le même niveau d’accroche ou d’obsession que pour le premier tome. Il y avait moins cette tension ou cette étincelle qui me donnait envie d’enchaîner les chapitres.
Malgré cela, ça reste une lecture agréable avec un univers toujours aussi solide et des idées intéressantes. J’ai tout de même hâte de lire la suite !
───── ｡⋆ 🩸 ⋆｡ ─────
•Secrets
•Mystère
•Fantaisie urbaine
•Found family
•Dark academia vibes
•Mythes irlandais
•Chasse
•Art et magie
August 26, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
A good sequel, although I’m having trouble caring for the story or the romances
Maybe right book wrong time?
The magic based on history, art and lore is fascinating, really what makes this story different than others
A good sequel, although I’m having trouble caring for the story or the romances
Maybe right book wrong time?
The magic based on history, art and lore is fascinating, really what makes this story different than others
June 20, 2026
I really loved A Temptation of Magic so I was so excited to start the sequel, which I ended up loving even more!
A Masterpiece in Blood is an absolute masterpiece (pun intended). I absolutely adored the blend of magic, Irish history and art. Nicole and Kyan has the most swoonworthy relationship and the sheer amount of yearning in this book had me squeeling, kicking my feet and grinning my head off.
The plot was deeply complex and intriguing and so full of foreshadowing that made my jaw drop. Megan Scott is such a phenomenal author and her writing style is so beautiful!
So many questions and from book one were answered but now I have even more questions! The cliffhanger was absolutely brutal and I will not rest until I get my hands on book three!
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the eARC
A Masterpiece in Blood is an absolute masterpiece (pun intended). I absolutely adored the blend of magic, Irish history and art. Nicole and Kyan has the most swoonworthy relationship and the sheer amount of yearning in this book had me squeeling, kicking my feet and grinning my head off.
The plot was deeply complex and intriguing and so full of foreshadowing that made my jaw drop. Megan Scott is such a phenomenal author and her writing style is so beautiful!
So many questions and from book one were answered but now I have even more questions! The cliffhanger was absolutely brutal and I will not rest until I get my hands on book three!
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the eARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“She loved that he was her new safeplace, that he had helped her understand she was her own one too.”
Let me get this straight: The Temptation of Magic has obsessed me since I read it for the first time 2 years ago. So saying that I had high expectations for A Masterpiece in Blood would be an euphemism. What I didn’t expect, however, was to be stricken even more. I know I’ll need at least another read to seize the whole as my thoughts are still all over the place, weeks after finishing reading (which also means that this review will be messy, sorry about that, that’s the crazy excitement).
That’s one thing I adore with this series: you can read it as pure entertainment, being dragged by the plot, the heists and mysteries. Or you can take your time, appreciate the craft as much in the style as in the way of planning and foreshadowing. You can read it 10 times and still find new things (I know, I did/do that with book 1!!). You can stop with every piece of art, place, double meaning and try to solve the mystery with the characters. I absolutely love these multiple layers of reading, and enjoy all of them. You can also read it in an attempt to analyse the craft, trying to understand how the author managed to put everything together in such a brilliant way (I’ve said that many times, but I need an annotated edition of this series).
BecauseM.S.’s craft is just spectacular. The style, yes (huge yes!), but the storytelling and foreshadowing. There were so many hints in book 1 that landed in this one, so many opportunities to have theories. I can’t even count how many times I yelled while reading this book, as my theories crashed or were confirmed, as I gasped, my heart thundering in my chest. If you had unhinged theories —like I did— you might have been right, but be warned, it's to be even more crashed a few paragraphs later. OMG how crazy that book (and revelations) was!
There’s a bit less space for lyrical writing, as you could expect for a second book in a series that develops, runs at a breathtaking pace, grabs you with its tension. But when we take a breath, when it occurs, it’s mindblowing (the whole middle, OMG).
The pace is a whirlwind of events and emotions, but it also knows when to breathe, the writing taking control then, as soft brushes on a Canva, adornments here to reveal the bigger picture. The Masterpiece.
I had mentioned before how MS’s writing felt synestheasic, and it’s still the case, probably even more than before as synesthesia is an explicit part of Nicole’s experience (which makes her even more precious to me –as I mentioned in my TTOM review, her character and lived experience was one of the times I’ve felt seen the most in a book). Once again, Nicole made me (metaphorically) feel seen with her experiences post unmasking, how she can be overwhelmed by the outside world. This is one of the reasons why TTOM was so precious to me, and I’m glad it was here again, but in a different way.
The tension is once again tensioning. Between Nicole and Kyan, of course, as things get even more heated than in book one (the writing of the spicy scenes was so perfect! But also the other moments that built such heated tension —I’ll just say it’s better than in omegaverses) even though the romance is a bit less central (but just as important to the plot), but also in general. I can’t count the number of times I had to close the book because I was too scared about what could happen next.
There is so much happening in the book that it feels like you run until you're out of breath. Heists. Street fights. Museums. Dangerous new characters. Riddles. Kidnapping. Revelations. And then, breaks, but so important ones (also, can I have a Tène too?)
MS makes you travel. Real places and pieces of art anchor the story in our reality, but the writing makes you feeling you’re actually there, diving deeper in the story. This second book is just as immersive as was the first one and I loved to visit England, Scotland and Ireland (oh, Ireland !!).
Even more than TTOM, AMIB is full of Irish myths. I loved how it mixed mythology retellings as we usually know them (Kyan) but also with an academia view (Nicole). The book/series remains a dark academia one to me (even though the setting is more urban fantasy in this second book), as Nicole is a scholar at her core, and that’s what guides her in her adventures.
There is a lot more about Kyan and his past (my dreams are thanking the author), and SO MUCH MORE about The Wake. OMG so so much more. Revelations, but also discourse, and the opportunity for the author to keep deepening the dystopian supernatural society, discussing power, control and cultural erasure. There are also very feminist moments (the Muse !! <3), especially around erasure or the false impression of safety).
And there is art. Of course, there is art. TTOM’s magical system (and magic for the reader) was based in art, and AMIB keeps going. Arts are at the center of the plot, but also the foundations of who the characters are (Nicole and Remi especially), how they think and act. It’s immersive, beautiful and a lot of my favorites scenes are linked to art. The pieces of art, the museums, the locations are described in such a way that makes you feel you are in here (the Whovian in me was VERY scared because of a sculpture in Liverpool) and live the events in real time with the characters.
The book becomes choral, with many POV which allows MS to develop previously secondary characters but what remains are the family dynamics. The Palmer family is beautiful and not at all toxic like we can see very (too?) often in fantasy (or in our world), and that’s such a precious thing to read. They’re all mostly green flag, even though the morality glimpse a bit (sometimes a lot) in this one as the protective instincts get the upper hand.
That notion of protection is at the center of the book (of course) and it’s a great way to discuss security and freedom, how fear can be used to rule, how culture can be scared —and crushed— for another one to dominate and erase them.
If TTOM was my unicorn of a fantasy (and more), AMIB is my unicorn of a book in general, what I dreamt for, and more. Not only did it survive my excitement about TTOM (and yall know how high it was/is) and confirmed some of my most unhinged theories, but it largely overtook it and confirmed that this series is my favorite fantasy series of all time.
AMIB is brilliant. All consuming. Haunting. Entrancing. Breathtaking. And also hot.
I don’t know what to do with my life while waiting for book 3, except maybe waiting for my physical copy and reread AMIB again and again, filling it with annotations, just like I did with TTOM.
(if it wasn’t clear enough, infinite stars for this one)
Thank you Harper Voyager for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
Let me get this straight: The Temptation of Magic has obsessed me since I read it for the first time 2 years ago. So saying that I had high expectations for A Masterpiece in Blood would be an euphemism. What I didn’t expect, however, was to be stricken even more. I know I’ll need at least another read to seize the whole as my thoughts are still all over the place, weeks after finishing reading (which also means that this review will be messy, sorry about that, that’s the crazy excitement).
That’s one thing I adore with this series: you can read it as pure entertainment, being dragged by the plot, the heists and mysteries. Or you can take your time, appreciate the craft as much in the style as in the way of planning and foreshadowing. You can read it 10 times and still find new things (I know, I did/do that with book 1!!). You can stop with every piece of art, place, double meaning and try to solve the mystery with the characters. I absolutely love these multiple layers of reading, and enjoy all of them. You can also read it in an attempt to analyse the craft, trying to understand how the author managed to put everything together in such a brilliant way (I’ve said that many times, but I need an annotated edition of this series).
BecauseM.S.’s craft is just spectacular. The style, yes (huge yes!), but the storytelling and foreshadowing. There were so many hints in book 1 that landed in this one, so many opportunities to have theories. I can’t even count how many times I yelled while reading this book, as my theories crashed or were confirmed, as I gasped, my heart thundering in my chest. If you had unhinged theories —like I did— you might have been right, but be warned, it's to be even more crashed a few paragraphs later. OMG how crazy that book (and revelations) was!
There’s a bit less space for lyrical writing, as you could expect for a second book in a series that develops, runs at a breathtaking pace, grabs you with its tension. But when we take a breath, when it occurs, it’s mindblowing (the whole middle, OMG).
The pace is a whirlwind of events and emotions, but it also knows when to breathe, the writing taking control then, as soft brushes on a Canva, adornments here to reveal the bigger picture. The Masterpiece.
I had mentioned before how MS’s writing felt synestheasic, and it’s still the case, probably even more than before as synesthesia is an explicit part of Nicole’s experience (which makes her even more precious to me –as I mentioned in my TTOM review, her character and lived experience was one of the times I’ve felt seen the most in a book). Once again, Nicole made me (metaphorically) feel seen with her experiences post unmasking, how she can be overwhelmed by the outside world. This is one of the reasons why TTOM was so precious to me, and I’m glad it was here again, but in a different way.
The tension is once again tensioning. Between Nicole and Kyan, of course, as things get even more heated than in book one (the writing of the spicy scenes was so perfect! But also the other moments that built such heated tension —I’ll just say it’s better than in omegaverses) even though the romance is a bit less central (but just as important to the plot), but also in general. I can’t count the number of times I had to close the book because I was too scared about what could happen next.
There is so much happening in the book that it feels like you run until you're out of breath. Heists. Street fights. Museums. Dangerous new characters. Riddles. Kidnapping. Revelations. And then, breaks, but so important ones (also, can I have a Tène too?)
MS makes you travel. Real places and pieces of art anchor the story in our reality, but the writing makes you feeling you’re actually there, diving deeper in the story. This second book is just as immersive as was the first one and I loved to visit England, Scotland and Ireland (oh, Ireland !!).
Even more than TTOM, AMIB is full of Irish myths. I loved how it mixed mythology retellings as we usually know them (Kyan) but also with an academia view (Nicole). The book/series remains a dark academia one to me (even though the setting is more urban fantasy in this second book), as Nicole is a scholar at her core, and that’s what guides her in her adventures.
There is a lot more about Kyan and his past (my dreams are thanking the author), and SO MUCH MORE about The Wake. OMG so so much more. Revelations, but also discourse, and the opportunity for the author to keep deepening the dystopian supernatural society, discussing power, control and cultural erasure. There are also very feminist moments (the Muse !! <3), especially around erasure or the false impression of safety).
And there is art. Of course, there is art. TTOM’s magical system (and magic for the reader) was based in art, and AMIB keeps going. Arts are at the center of the plot, but also the foundations of who the characters are (Nicole and Remi especially), how they think and act. It’s immersive, beautiful and a lot of my favorites scenes are linked to art. The pieces of art, the museums, the locations are described in such a way that makes you feel you are in here (the Whovian in me was VERY scared because of a sculpture in Liverpool) and live the events in real time with the characters.
The book becomes choral, with many POV which allows MS to develop previously secondary characters but what remains are the family dynamics. The Palmer family is beautiful and not at all toxic like we can see very (too?) often in fantasy (or in our world), and that’s such a precious thing to read. They’re all mostly green flag, even though the morality glimpse a bit (sometimes a lot) in this one as the protective instincts get the upper hand.
That notion of protection is at the center of the book (of course) and it’s a great way to discuss security and freedom, how fear can be used to rule, how culture can be scared —and crushed— for another one to dominate and erase them.
If TTOM was my unicorn of a fantasy (and more), AMIB is my unicorn of a book in general, what I dreamt for, and more. Not only did it survive my excitement about TTOM (and yall know how high it was/is) and confirmed some of my most unhinged theories, but it largely overtook it and confirmed that this series is my favorite fantasy series of all time.
AMIB is brilliant. All consuming. Haunting. Entrancing. Breathtaking. And also hot.
I don’t know what to do with my life while waiting for book 3, except maybe waiting for my physical copy and reread AMIB again and again, filling it with annotations, just like I did with TTOM.
(if it wasn’t clear enough, infinite stars for this one)
Thank you Harper Voyager for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 ★
Megan Scott is back and delivering some wild developments in this epic Empyreal game. Reading A Masterpiece in Blood (MiB) reminded me of my experience tandem reading Empire of Storms and Tower of Down on account of the multiple POVs and various storylines being followed by different characters. Because of this, MiB, especially in comparison to A Temptation of Magic (ToM), was not an easy read. It took some serious brain power and focus to follow along with all of the mysteries unraveling and the mythology woven within, but it was worth it.
I am in awe of the amount of research I imagine Scott conducted to develop this story and make it as vast and detailed as it is while also being so succinct. There’s a solid chance I’ll be at a museum soon, browsing relics and art in an effort to uncover some long lost magic because I don’t know how to reacquaint myself with the actual world after this.
Things I Loved:
The New Players and Places - Scott expands this world far beyond what I could’ve imagined after ToM. While that does complicate things for everyone involved, it aptly raised the stakes and deepened my immersion into the story. Scott’s writing brings locations to life so beautifully that I also found myself longing for a trip to Ireland and Scotland.
🩸 The Magic, Mythology, and Mystery - This is what hooked me in the first book and kept me still. Magical mysteries are my catnip, and this one, in combination with Irish lore and an abundance of supernatural creatures and powers, was fascinating.
💞 The Romance - I appreciate how Kyan and Nicole are presented as equals despite Kyan’s age/experience. They fully believe in, and are there for, one another without overshadowing or constantly needing to save the other. It’s refreshing. There’s also a satisfying balance between their ruthless protectiveness and genuine affection towards the other. There’s no unnecessary drama, and the obstacles they face are realistic given the story’s progression. Their burn is slow still, even though we know they are mates, because of those obstacles, so the tension and yearning keep things spicy.
🏠 The Palmer Family - Ronan, Dylan, and Bells have been through it, but this book took it to another level with them confronting their traumatic pasts, unearthing some new skills, and facing multiple threats. Despite it all, they continuously have each other’s backs, and I admire and adore their ferocity in the face of someone coming for any of them.
👥 The Side Characters (Remi and Callum) - I cannot wait to see where they go in terms of their powers and positions as well as their relationships with the other characters. Callum and Dylan, I am invested!
🔀 The Twists, Turns, and Revelations - These just kept coming, especially in the last quarter, and my jaw dropped on more than one occasion.
🧗♀️ The Cliffhanger - The rollercoaster that was MiB left me hanging on the ledge and eager for what comes next. Those bombshells at the end… oh my!
Things I Struggled With:
📕 Some Slow Pacing - There were a few spots, particularly in the middle, that felt dense on account of all the information being swapped and analyzed amongst the group. While I found the information itself quite interesting, it did slow things down and cause me to have to go back and reread some.
❤️🩹 More Kyan and Nicole Moments - I understand why they couldn’t most of the time, but that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t yearning for it as much as they were! According to the book’s acknowledgements, however, I may be getting this in spades in book three (here’s hoping!).
** Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this text in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
Megan Scott is back and delivering some wild developments in this epic Empyreal game. Reading A Masterpiece in Blood (MiB) reminded me of my experience tandem reading Empire of Storms and Tower of Down on account of the multiple POVs and various storylines being followed by different characters. Because of this, MiB, especially in comparison to A Temptation of Magic (ToM), was not an easy read. It took some serious brain power and focus to follow along with all of the mysteries unraveling and the mythology woven within, but it was worth it.
I am in awe of the amount of research I imagine Scott conducted to develop this story and make it as vast and detailed as it is while also being so succinct. There’s a solid chance I’ll be at a museum soon, browsing relics and art in an effort to uncover some long lost magic because I don’t know how to reacquaint myself with the actual world after this.
Things I Loved:
The New Players and Places - Scott expands this world far beyond what I could’ve imagined after ToM. While that does complicate things for everyone involved, it aptly raised the stakes and deepened my immersion into the story. Scott’s writing brings locations to life so beautifully that I also found myself longing for a trip to Ireland and Scotland.
🩸 The Magic, Mythology, and Mystery - This is what hooked me in the first book and kept me still. Magical mysteries are my catnip, and this one, in combination with Irish lore and an abundance of supernatural creatures and powers, was fascinating.
💞 The Romance - I appreciate how Kyan and Nicole are presented as equals despite Kyan’s age/experience. They fully believe in, and are there for, one another without overshadowing or constantly needing to save the other. It’s refreshing. There’s also a satisfying balance between their ruthless protectiveness and genuine affection towards the other. There’s no unnecessary drama, and the obstacles they face are realistic given the story’s progression. Their burn is slow still, even though we know they are mates, because of those obstacles, so the tension and yearning keep things spicy.
🏠 The Palmer Family - Ronan, Dylan, and Bells have been through it, but this book took it to another level with them confronting their traumatic pasts, unearthing some new skills, and facing multiple threats. Despite it all, they continuously have each other’s backs, and I admire and adore their ferocity in the face of someone coming for any of them.
👥 The Side Characters (Remi and Callum) - I cannot wait to see where they go in terms of their powers and positions as well as their relationships with the other characters. Callum and Dylan, I am invested!
🔀 The Twists, Turns, and Revelations - These just kept coming, especially in the last quarter, and my jaw dropped on more than one occasion.
🧗♀️ The Cliffhanger - The rollercoaster that was MiB left me hanging on the ledge and eager for what comes next. Those bombshells at the end… oh my!
Things I Struggled With:
📕 Some Slow Pacing - There were a few spots, particularly in the middle, that felt dense on account of all the information being swapped and analyzed amongst the group. While I found the information itself quite interesting, it did slow things down and cause me to have to go back and reread some.
❤️🩹 More Kyan and Nicole Moments - I understand why they couldn’t most of the time, but that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t yearning for it as much as they were! According to the book’s acknowledgements, however, I may be getting this in spades in book three (here’s hoping!).
** Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this text in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I technically finished A Masterpiece in Blood at 2am, but I was far too emotionally compromised to form a coherent review at the time, so this is me attempting to gather my thoughts now… though I’m still not entirely recovered. Megan really said “let me raise the stakes and ruin your peace” and fully committed to it, especially with that ending. I spent most of this book reacting in real time (through messages to Megan, which she was really lovely about), and by the final stretch I was just staring at the pages in disbelief. It’s the kind of ending that lingers and makes you immediately desperate for the next book.
One of the standout elements for me was the intensity of the relationships. The shift into NA feels very clear here, and it allows for a deeper exploration of emotions, loyalty, and consequences. Everything feels sharper, more layered, and more impactful because of it.
Nicole continues to be such a strong central character. I really appreciated how grounded she feels, particularly because of her family. They’re present, involved, and important to the story rather than just existing in the background, which adds a lot of emotional weight to everything that happens. Kyan and Nicole completely delivered on the tension. The yearning is constant, and the dynamic between them carries that “we would burn the world for each other” energy that makes every interaction feel significant. It never felt repetitive either. Instead, it built steadily throughout the book in a way that kept me fully invested.
Callum was another highlight for me. There’s something so effortlessly likeable about him, and he brings a different kind of energy to the story. His dynamic with Dylan was genuinely one of the softer, more endearing aspects of the book, and I found myself really looking forward to their scenes.
Bells is also someone I’m very curious about moving forward. There are clear hints that there’s more going on with her, and I’m especially interested in how her connection with Callum might develop in the next installment as I feel like there were very strong suggestions towards the end that they might be pivotal in working together.
Plot-wise, there is a lot happening. This isn’t a slow or simple story, and it requires you to pay attention, but that’s part of what makes it so engaging. There are multiple POVs, shifting dynamics, and layers of tension that keep everything moving. Even when I felt overwhelmed, it was in a way that made me want to keep reading rather than step away.
Overall, this book felt bigger, darker, and more emotionally intense than what came before, and I really enjoyed that progression. It expands the world, deepens the characters, and raises the stakes in a way that makes the wait for the next book feel almost unbearable.
And yes… that ending. I am both impressed and emotionally unwell.
I will absolutely be picking up book three as soon as possible, because I need to know what happens next. I truly don't want to be that person always demanding more, and I know there is so much work that goes into writing and editing and publishing a book and I know it takes time and isn't something Megan can just give us immediately.... but also... Megan knows what she did to make me feel like this haha
One of the standout elements for me was the intensity of the relationships. The shift into NA feels very clear here, and it allows for a deeper exploration of emotions, loyalty, and consequences. Everything feels sharper, more layered, and more impactful because of it.
Nicole continues to be such a strong central character. I really appreciated how grounded she feels, particularly because of her family. They’re present, involved, and important to the story rather than just existing in the background, which adds a lot of emotional weight to everything that happens. Kyan and Nicole completely delivered on the tension. The yearning is constant, and the dynamic between them carries that “we would burn the world for each other” energy that makes every interaction feel significant. It never felt repetitive either. Instead, it built steadily throughout the book in a way that kept me fully invested.
Callum was another highlight for me. There’s something so effortlessly likeable about him, and he brings a different kind of energy to the story. His dynamic with Dylan was genuinely one of the softer, more endearing aspects of the book, and I found myself really looking forward to their scenes.
Bells is also someone I’m very curious about moving forward. There are clear hints that there’s more going on with her, and I’m especially interested in how her connection with Callum might develop in the next installment as I feel like there were very strong suggestions towards the end that they might be pivotal in working together.
Plot-wise, there is a lot happening. This isn’t a slow or simple story, and it requires you to pay attention, but that’s part of what makes it so engaging. There are multiple POVs, shifting dynamics, and layers of tension that keep everything moving. Even when I felt overwhelmed, it was in a way that made me want to keep reading rather than step away.
Overall, this book felt bigger, darker, and more emotionally intense than what came before, and I really enjoyed that progression. It expands the world, deepens the characters, and raises the stakes in a way that makes the wait for the next book feel almost unbearable.
And yes… that ending. I am both impressed and emotionally unwell.
I will absolutely be picking up book three as soon as possible, because I need to know what happens next. I truly don't want to be that person always demanding more, and I know there is so much work that goes into writing and editing and publishing a book and I know it takes time and isn't something Megan can just give us immediately.... but also... Megan knows what she did to make me feel like this haha
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley & HarperCollins UK for this highly anticipated ARC!
A masterpiece indeed.
Such a solid second/middle book of the series which succeeded in adding depth to the characters and the overarching plot and world-building.
I finished reading this a while back but it took me so long to get my thoughts together about this book because it was just so rich and dynamic with so many moving parts that all worked seamlessly together to form a fully fleshed out plot with beautiful prose. My head is still trying to wrap around what happened and how things will go from here.
I waited over a year for this book after devouring the first one and it was well worth the wait! Literally felt like I was watching a movie as I was reading as the writing was just so lush and atmospheric. It was like a Marvel movie with all the different (and necessary) POVs and subplots that all ultimately come together and deliver the most diabolical cliffhanger and crazy reveals. I loved how all the surprises and plot points were well thought out and clues sprinkled throughout the books because it all made sense and gave me so much to look forward to in the last book.
Many answers were provided but from those, three more questions popped up which I'm so excited to read about in the grand finale.
Besides the intricate plot, cinematic world building and captivating Irish mythology, I especially adored the character work in A Masterpiece In Blood. We got to learn so much more about all the side characters that play an important role in the grand scheme of things - all of which have distinct voices but also left an air of mystery for the reader to discover about their true nature. This also reinforced the loving family theme which was so sweet to read about. Their connection and unflinching love for one another is unmatched and a strong driving point for these characters in how they choose to act.
A Masterpiece in Blood also had a steady pace for the first half which helped build that yearning and romantic tension as both main characters tried to tiptoe around their bond but once the action and romance hits, it is relentless. I loved every moment.
Would read again, as well as anything else Megan Scott writes! One of the most talented authors right now who has the ability to easily draw readers in with an immersive and heart-pounding romantasy read. Nicole and Kyan have my heart and I am beyond ready for their HEA.
Overall rating: 5/5
A masterpiece indeed.
Such a solid second/middle book of the series which succeeded in adding depth to the characters and the overarching plot and world-building.
I finished reading this a while back but it took me so long to get my thoughts together about this book because it was just so rich and dynamic with so many moving parts that all worked seamlessly together to form a fully fleshed out plot with beautiful prose. My head is still trying to wrap around what happened and how things will go from here.
I waited over a year for this book after devouring the first one and it was well worth the wait! Literally felt like I was watching a movie as I was reading as the writing was just so lush and atmospheric. It was like a Marvel movie with all the different (and necessary) POVs and subplots that all ultimately come together and deliver the most diabolical cliffhanger and crazy reveals. I loved how all the surprises and plot points were well thought out and clues sprinkled throughout the books because it all made sense and gave me so much to look forward to in the last book.
Many answers were provided but from those, three more questions popped up which I'm so excited to read about in the grand finale.
Besides the intricate plot, cinematic world building and captivating Irish mythology, I especially adored the character work in A Masterpiece In Blood. We got to learn so much more about all the side characters that play an important role in the grand scheme of things - all of which have distinct voices but also left an air of mystery for the reader to discover about their true nature. This also reinforced the loving family theme which was so sweet to read about. Their connection and unflinching love for one another is unmatched and a strong driving point for these characters in how they choose to act.
A Masterpiece in Blood also had a steady pace for the first half which helped build that yearning and romantic tension as both main characters tried to tiptoe around their bond but once the action and romance hits, it is relentless. I loved every moment.
Would read again, as well as anything else Megan Scott writes! One of the most talented authors right now who has the ability to easily draw readers in with an immersive and heart-pounding romantasy read. Nicole and Kyan have my heart and I am beyond ready for their HEA.
Overall rating: 5/5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
OMG, the last 50 pages of this book were INSANE. 😱 I genuinely had to sit there for a moment and process everything that had just happened!
I’ll admit that at the beginning I found the book a little longer than I would have liked, and the pacing felt somewhat slower than my personal preference. However, it definitely picked up after hitting the halfway point, and by the time I reached the final part of the book, I was completely hooked.
And the TWISTS… absolutely insane. I did not see most of them coming, maybe apart from one, and I LOVED, loved, loved this aspect of the story. And that ending?! 😱 Cruel...what am I supposed to do until the next one?
You can also really tell how much research has gone into this series. The amount of folklore and mythology woven throughout is honestly incredible and it adds so much depth to the story and the world. If you love books that take inspiration from myths and folklore, there is so much to discover here.
The magic system is another highlight for me. It feels very original and is so closely tied to art in general, which gives the magic such a unique identity. I also found the book incredibly visual. So many of the scenes, particularly those involving different places and settings, are written in a way that makes you feel like you can almost see the locations yourself. I could picture them so clearly, and the atmosphere and vibes really came through the writing.
We also have quite a few characters taking centre stage throughout the series, which surprised me because I’m usually not a huge fan of books with more than two POVs. But somehow, this really works here. I actually love getting glimpses into the minds of all the important characters because it allows us to see the story unfolding from different angles. And with everything that is happening, I think this approach helps tremendously with understanding the bigger picture.
At times, I did feel like there were perhaps a few too many details, and that could become a little tiring, especially when the story was already moving at a slower pace. But overall, this was another fantastic instalment in the series.
Both book one and book two have been 5-star reads for me, and after discovering this series, I will absolutely be picking up more of Megan Scott’s work in the future.
Highly recommended! 🩸✨
Thank you so much NetGalley, HarperCollins and Magpie for the gifted e-arc. I absolutely loved it!
I’ll admit that at the beginning I found the book a little longer than I would have liked, and the pacing felt somewhat slower than my personal preference. However, it definitely picked up after hitting the halfway point, and by the time I reached the final part of the book, I was completely hooked.
And the TWISTS… absolutely insane. I did not see most of them coming, maybe apart from one, and I LOVED, loved, loved this aspect of the story. And that ending?! 😱 Cruel...what am I supposed to do until the next one?
You can also really tell how much research has gone into this series. The amount of folklore and mythology woven throughout is honestly incredible and it adds so much depth to the story and the world. If you love books that take inspiration from myths and folklore, there is so much to discover here.
The magic system is another highlight for me. It feels very original and is so closely tied to art in general, which gives the magic such a unique identity. I also found the book incredibly visual. So many of the scenes, particularly those involving different places and settings, are written in a way that makes you feel like you can almost see the locations yourself. I could picture them so clearly, and the atmosphere and vibes really came through the writing.
We also have quite a few characters taking centre stage throughout the series, which surprised me because I’m usually not a huge fan of books with more than two POVs. But somehow, this really works here. I actually love getting glimpses into the minds of all the important characters because it allows us to see the story unfolding from different angles. And with everything that is happening, I think this approach helps tremendously with understanding the bigger picture.
At times, I did feel like there were perhaps a few too many details, and that could become a little tiring, especially when the story was already moving at a slower pace. But overall, this was another fantastic instalment in the series.
Both book one and book two have been 5-star reads for me, and after discovering this series, I will absolutely be picking up more of Megan Scott’s work in the future.
Highly recommended! 🩸✨
Thank you so much NetGalley, HarperCollins and Magpie for the gifted e-arc. I absolutely loved it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC!
I read the first book a couple of months after it was released, and immediately fell in love. I loved the characters, I loved the atmosphere, and I loved that art history was such a large part of the story. Art history is something that I've always enjoyed and found interesting, so I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading the book and found out what Nicole was majoring in.
I have been not so patiently waiting for the next book, and it did not disappoint. It was a little slow in the beginning, but I think that was just because I was impatiently waiting for Nicole and Kyan to reunite in the book. In any case, the book only got better when they were reunited. I love their relationship and the pining and yearning between the two of them. They are both so clearly head over heel for each other, and the tension was just great. I also loved the sense of found family that the book gives. It was there in the first one, but I think with the addition of some other characters, it just makes it better.
There is a lot of mythology in this book---way more than we got in the first, which in a way gives us more insight into Kyan's backstory and everything that happened there. Greek mythology is what is usually so heavily used in book, so it's always interesting to see when another mythology is incorporated into a book. It can be kind of confusing at times, but I think part of that is because it's not a mythology that I'm super familiar with and I can't pronounce the ancient---or modern, for that matter---Irish words to save my life, I'm pretty sure my mind just blanked whenever an Irish word came up, but oh well. It was still a fascinating part of the book.
But that ending . . . Ugh, I am so mad at Megan for doing this to me. Waiting for the last book---I think, at least---is going to be so painful. I cannot recommend this book enough, especially if you liked A Discovery of Witches. It got a lot of the same vibes, and in some ways, Kyan reminds me of Matthew.
I read the first book a couple of months after it was released, and immediately fell in love. I loved the characters, I loved the atmosphere, and I loved that art history was such a large part of the story. Art history is something that I've always enjoyed and found interesting, so I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading the book and found out what Nicole was majoring in.
I have been not so patiently waiting for the next book, and it did not disappoint. It was a little slow in the beginning, but I think that was just because I was impatiently waiting for Nicole and Kyan to reunite in the book. In any case, the book only got better when they were reunited. I love their relationship and the pining and yearning between the two of them. They are both so clearly head over heel for each other, and the tension was just great. I also loved the sense of found family that the book gives. It was there in the first one, but I think with the addition of some other characters, it just makes it better.
There is a lot of mythology in this book---way more than we got in the first, which in a way gives us more insight into Kyan's backstory and everything that happened there. Greek mythology is what is usually so heavily used in book, so it's always interesting to see when another mythology is incorporated into a book. It can be kind of confusing at times, but I think part of that is because it's not a mythology that I'm super familiar with and I can't pronounce the ancient---or modern, for that matter---Irish words to save my life, I'm pretty sure my mind just blanked whenever an Irish word came up, but oh well. It was still a fascinating part of the book.
But that ending . . . Ugh, I am so mad at Megan for doing this to me. Waiting for the last book---I think, at least---is going to be so painful. I cannot recommend this book enough, especially if you liked A Discovery of Witches. It got a lot of the same vibes, and in some ways, Kyan reminds me of Matthew.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a digital ARC.
TLDR: a stellar sequel to the first volume.
Nicole is researching her mother’s clues while Kyan pretends to be a loyal assassin for the Wake. A cure for the oath that binds the Empyreals to the Wake must be found. But the Wake is eager to keep its secrets, and they know.
I adored the first book, A Temptation of Magic, for its savvy use of romantasy tropes, artistic references, the wistful one, its unusual magical creatures, and the white-hot romance. While I’m cynical about things like fated mates in general, the first book won me over.
I absolutely gobbled this sequel up because it does justice to all of those aspects from the first book– but, like the best of sequels, it builds on the first volume (and gives us plenty of breadcrumbs to remember what happened in the first one, thank you!) while raising the stakes. Unlike most sequels, stuff actually happens– the plot moves forward, there are big reveals that made me gasp, we learn useful things about the world, and characters’ relationships meaningfully develop. And y’all, there’s no miscommunication trope.
I also really love how various real artworks and artists are woven into the second volume as well. As a big fan of pre-Raphaelite painters, I particularly enjoyed seeing the references to John William Waterhouse and others.
My criticism is minor and more of an argument with the genre than this specific work. I don't think this is YA given the on-page sex, but calling it New Adult is fair. I wish the book was more aware of its own tropes and played with them a little bit, like a possible conversation between Kyan and Nicole about how old he is. Without spoilers, I also disliked how Kyan kept some information from Nicole at one point, and there’s no exchange about it and Nicole doesn’t even reflect on it. I think it could have been a good opportunity to contrast Nicole’s modern independence with Kyan’s history. But the smallest of quibbles.
I can’t wait for the next volume!
TLDR: a stellar sequel to the first volume.
Nicole is researching her mother’s clues while Kyan pretends to be a loyal assassin for the Wake. A cure for the oath that binds the Empyreals to the Wake must be found. But the Wake is eager to keep its secrets, and they know.
I adored the first book, A Temptation of Magic, for its savvy use of romantasy tropes, artistic references, the wistful one, its unusual magical creatures, and the white-hot romance. While I’m cynical about things like fated mates in general, the first book won me over.
I absolutely gobbled this sequel up because it does justice to all of those aspects from the first book– but, like the best of sequels, it builds on the first volume (and gives us plenty of breadcrumbs to remember what happened in the first one, thank you!) while raising the stakes. Unlike most sequels, stuff actually happens– the plot moves forward, there are big reveals that made me gasp, we learn useful things about the world, and characters’ relationships meaningfully develop. And y’all, there’s no miscommunication trope.
I also really love how various real artworks and artists are woven into the second volume as well. As a big fan of pre-Raphaelite painters, I particularly enjoyed seeing the references to John William Waterhouse and others.
My criticism is minor and more of an argument with the genre than this specific work. I don't think this is YA given the on-page sex, but calling it New Adult is fair. I wish the book was more aware of its own tropes and played with them a little bit, like a possible conversation between Kyan and Nicole about how old he is. Without spoilers, I also disliked how Kyan kept some information from Nicole at one point, and there’s no exchange about it and Nicole doesn’t even reflect on it. I think it could have been a good opportunity to contrast Nicole’s modern independence with Kyan’s history. But the smallest of quibbles.
I can’t wait for the next volume!
Review of advance copy
If the first book laid the foundation, A Masterpiece in Blood builds something darker, bolder, and far more emotionally devastating.
From the opening chapters, the novel wastes no time raising the stakes. Every decision carries weight, alliances are tested, and the line between hero and villain becomes increasingly blurred. The story balances breathtaking action with quieter character moments, giving the emotional conflicts just as much importance as the larger plot.
What impressed me most was the character development. The protagonists aren't simply reacting to the world around them—they're forced to confront difficult truths about themselves, their loyalties, and the sacrifices they're willing to make. Those internal struggles made the victories feel earned and the losses genuinely painful.
The world-building is another standout. The mythology expands naturally without becoming overwhelming, and each revelation adds another layer to the story rather than existing purely for spectacle. The author does an excellent job of maintaining a sense of mystery while steadily answering questions from the previous installment.
The pacing is relentless but never rushed. Just when I thought I understood where the story was heading, another twist completely changed my expectations. The final act is particularly gripping, delivering emotional payoffs that linger long after the last page.
My only minor criticism is that the large cast and intricate lore can occasionally make it difficult to keep track of every detail, especially if it's been a while since reading the first book. I'd definitely recommend rereading or refreshing your memory of the previous installment before diving in.
Overall, A Masterpiece in Blood is an outstanding sequel that deepens the series in every way. It's darker, more emotionally complex, and impossible to put down. If you enjoyed the first book, this sequel more than lives up to the expectations.
From the opening chapters, the novel wastes no time raising the stakes. Every decision carries weight, alliances are tested, and the line between hero and villain becomes increasingly blurred. The story balances breathtaking action with quieter character moments, giving the emotional conflicts just as much importance as the larger plot.
What impressed me most was the character development. The protagonists aren't simply reacting to the world around them—they're forced to confront difficult truths about themselves, their loyalties, and the sacrifices they're willing to make. Those internal struggles made the victories feel earned and the losses genuinely painful.
The world-building is another standout. The mythology expands naturally without becoming overwhelming, and each revelation adds another layer to the story rather than existing purely for spectacle. The author does an excellent job of maintaining a sense of mystery while steadily answering questions from the previous installment.
The pacing is relentless but never rushed. Just when I thought I understood where the story was heading, another twist completely changed my expectations. The final act is particularly gripping, delivering emotional payoffs that linger long after the last page.
My only minor criticism is that the large cast and intricate lore can occasionally make it difficult to keep track of every detail, especially if it's been a while since reading the first book. I'd definitely recommend rereading or refreshing your memory of the previous installment before diving in.
Overall, A Masterpiece in Blood is an outstanding sequel that deepens the series in every way. It's darker, more emotionally complex, and impossible to put down. If you enjoyed the first book, this sequel more than lives up to the expectations.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 ⭐️
Another wonderful book by Megan! I’m having so much fun with the Empyreal series, and I’m already impatiently waiting for the next book.
I really enjoyed all the different POVs in this story. The magic is woven throughout every page, and the mystery of what’s going to happen next kept me on the edge of my seat. Kyan and Nicole have my whole heart—they’re such a wonderful couple, and I absolutely love what they bring out in one another. I truly think this series deserves so much more hype and love than it receives.
The concept of magic throughout art is unbelievably unique. I loved seeing how much the magic and the world expanded in this book, while watching the characters grow and develop alongside it. There was so much depth to the world, and I really enjoyed discovering more of it as the story progressed.
One thing I particularly loved was how Megan slowly reminded readers of the events from the first book instead of info-dumping everything at the beginning. It was such a natural way to ease back into the world. I also loved watching the mystery surrounding her mother’s portrait develop and grow as the story progressed.
Megan’s writing is so incredible and descriptive that I genuinely felt like I was right there alongside the characters. The plot, storytelling, and characters all came together beautifully, and I loved how everything was wrapped up without leaving any loose ends.
Overall, this was another fantastic addition to the Empyreal series. I loved the plot, the unique magic system, the storytelling, and the relatable, likable characters. I had so much fun reading this and can’t wait to see what comes next!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Another wonderful book by Megan! I’m having so much fun with the Empyreal series, and I’m already impatiently waiting for the next book.
I really enjoyed all the different POVs in this story. The magic is woven throughout every page, and the mystery of what’s going to happen next kept me on the edge of my seat. Kyan and Nicole have my whole heart—they’re such a wonderful couple, and I absolutely love what they bring out in one another. I truly think this series deserves so much more hype and love than it receives.
The concept of magic throughout art is unbelievably unique. I loved seeing how much the magic and the world expanded in this book, while watching the characters grow and develop alongside it. There was so much depth to the world, and I really enjoyed discovering more of it as the story progressed.
One thing I particularly loved was how Megan slowly reminded readers of the events from the first book instead of info-dumping everything at the beginning. It was such a natural way to ease back into the world. I also loved watching the mystery surrounding her mother’s portrait develop and grow as the story progressed.
Megan’s writing is so incredible and descriptive that I genuinely felt like I was right there alongside the characters. The plot, storytelling, and characters all came together beautifully, and I loved how everything was wrapped up without leaving any loose ends.
Overall, this was another fantastic addition to the Empyreal series. I loved the plot, the unique magic system, the storytelling, and the relatable, likable characters. I had so much fun reading this and can’t wait to see what comes next!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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