Three bonds fated to save them all…Years of war with the Rebellion have left the Kingdom of Gaia a dead, desolate place. Blessed with a vision of a haven for her people, Nessa, the High Priestess’s daughter, goes on a mission to see if her premonition is true.
But when fate intervenes, she finds herself a prisoner of the rebellion, thrust into their war with a shadow magic coven.
Determined to discover their weak points and escape back to the Sisterhood, Nessa finds herself unexpectedly drawn to the leaders of the rebellion. But with every sunrise, witches are going missing. Ravenous vampires are on the hunt. And one secret upends Nessa’s world.
As the meaning of her vision becomes clearer, Nessa must find the light within or be destroyed by the shadows that hunt her.
Thank you to V.A Child for giving me an ARC of Blessed by light. This is my honest review
Couldn’t put this book down, with all the twists and turns.
I loved Nessa character and how although she was powerful, she stayed true to herself. Also Lachlan was my favourite character throughout the whole book
Family is a bond between people who love each other.
"I thought family was bound by blood, but it was you who made me believe family is more than that. It’s the people who stand by you, no matter what.”
I entirely enjoy true enemies-to-lovers, and I love seeing that in a why choose. The story was slow going, with Nessa learning a bit about the world she was protected from and the people she thought she knew. Then it started to wind up and end somewhere. Truly, it was an adventure that alluded to so much more in the form of their children.
I kind of wanted the story to keep going with this current cast, like there was so much more they could've done. But we got a timeskip and an end.
Thank you to V. A. Child for the opportunity to read this mysterious story.
If you liked the Court of Ravens series give this series a try!
Nessa has been locked away from the world for her protection. She is magicless in a world torn apart by civil war. She can see the world is dying and has no way to help. Until she is blessed by the Goddess and receives a vision. She embarks on a quest to find a way to peace for the kingdom. However, when she inadvertently runs into the leaders of the Rebellion, she finds more than she could ever bargain for.
Aarron and Lachlan set out to find their newly discovered bond after the night of the Blessing. After losing the battle to the sisterhood, the Rebellion leaders retreat to regroup. When they discover Nessa wandering the woods, they must protect her while she comes to terms with the world outside her gilded cage. Can these three push past their conceptions of each other, their hurt, their feelings, and bind together to save their kingdom?
The magic system and structure in this book was intriguing. I found myself captivated by how the mystery unfolded. There are so many moving parts it was hard to keep track at times. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters and how events unfolded. I wish there was a bit more about the history of the world and lore of the Goddess. I found myself confused at first about the “bonds” and it took me a while to clue into it. The last third of the book just felt like a different writing style all together. The tone, word choice, and character actions were almost a 180 from the rest.
I adored Lachlan. His character felt the most flushed out and easiest to connect to. I just wanted to hug Murdock and never let him go. He was a perfect character to guide our MCs through their journey. Nessa is our FMC and the girl has very strong emotions, but her naivety bothered me at times. It was like she didn't build on what she'd experienced. Aarron was such a golden retriever and I love how he brings Nessa's personality and character.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and found myself on the edge of my seat at the end. My emotions ran high and the tears did fall. I cannot wait to see what V. A. Child has in store for the rest of the series!
🥀Why Choose 🐦⬛Slow burn 🥀Enemies to lovers 🐦⬛Found family 🥀Fated mates 🐦⬛Forced proximity
"I thought family was bound by blood, but it was you who made me believe family is more than that. It’s the people who stand by you, no matter what.”
“Don’t, Little Raven, think for a moment that you are not important. That you can risk yourself for any of us.”
“I think back to all the books I’ve read, how the hero would venture off into danger. Now I’m doing the same, praying for my happy ending.”
“Am I in your nightmares, Little Raven, because you’re in mine?”
I received an advanced copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The above opinions are my own.
This world was such an interesting fantasy realm. We had all kinds of magic with witches, but throw in vampires and werewolves...that's my kind of read. We have a FMC with a hidden identity which knows nothing about only that her Grandma locked her magic away. She is raised in this Sisterhood of witches with the notion that the Rebellion is responsible for the death of their land. Does Nessa (FMC) see her chance to leave the safety of the Sisterhood/castle to discover the truth after being revealed something at the night of the Blessing? YES! Is she quickly captured by our TWO MMC? Also yes! I really liked the dynamic between the two MMC with Nessa. Aaron with Nessa was almost an InstaLove solely because he truly believed the fate of the Bonded. Then we have Lachlan...who was my favorite! He had that enemies to lovers thing down until like halfway through the plot and he couldn't ignore the pull he had to Nessa. We do get a bit of a slow burn romance with both MMCs but more with Lachlan. Nessa grows in her character by discovering the truth about everything and those truly responsible. We see her grow into her power and challenging herself to new and frightening experiences. I like that her first "friend" is a werewolf named Murdock who basically fakes being a prisoner. The other side characters are also lovable and add to the plotline and the dynamics of the drama and suspense. Throughout their journey, they are faced with a lot of heartbreak and ultimately a huge sacrifice (that made me cry!). Do I think the ending could have been a bit more clearly written? Yes. Was I a bit confused but somehow still understood? Also yes. While I didn't like the ending for a certain character, I did think the ending of this story was very interesting with room for some sort of closure in another book.
Huge thank you to the author and to Luna literacy pr for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review! I am rating this book a 4.5 stars and here is why!
Blessed by light throws the reader into a magical fantasy world where vampires, werewolves and witches are all in the middle of a war. During this war with the Rebellion, our FMC, Nessa finds herself bestowed with a vision of a haven for her people. Being the high priestess’s daughter, Nessa’s powers have been kept in a cage, aching to be set free. On her journey to find this haven, Nessa meets Aaron and Lachlan. Two people in the rebellion who have been bonded to her. While Aaron wants the bond to solidify, Lachlan is more standoffish and will stop at nothing to make sure it doesn’t happen for him.
While Nessa is a prisoner in the rebellion tribe, she learns more about the truth on what has happened between the different covens and also learns more about her fated mates, all while training with Murdock who is a werewolf. Nessa, Murdock, Aaron & Lachlan all form a found family, even if there is a lot of disagreements going on between them, they still will do anything they can to save each other. I felt that the relationships Nessa formed with all three of them were so genuine and so beautiful that I couldn’t help but cheer for them and wish they could all have their happily ever after.
This book did end with a beautiful epilogue and I know that book two will probably bring so much more to the table than meets the eye. I was engaged with this entire book so I am excited to see where the continuation goes from here.
Firstly thank you to VA Child & Luna Literary Management for allowing me to ARC this book.
Nessa has spent her whole life locked away in a cage. Her magic locked away inside her.
Until one fateful day, her chest cracks open and her home explodes. She finally breaks free from her cage, only she finds herself in a prisoner once again. This encounter changes her life forever. Everything she knows to be true, everything she has grown to believe is a lie and now she must do everything in her power to save the world around her.
This book took so many twists and turns. I couldn't put it down and devoured it in one day. I am such a vibe reader and this one for sure hit the right way. The ending for this story was absolutely NOT what I was expecting to happen and I always base my reviews on if I would be willing to pick up the next one and this book is one I definitely will be looking forward to book 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Ok, so… I’m honestly a bit confused and not entirely sure what just happened 😅
I really wanted to love this one.. the premise was great, and the first half (around 40%) had me hooked! 🤌🏻 The world, the setup, and the pacing at the beginning were all really solid, and I was so so excited to see where it would go.
That said, I struggled to connect with the characters.. Nessa, my love … she started off naive (obviously), but as her powers developed.. I expected to see more growth (but noup)🥹
Aarron’s? Idk.. he didn’t quite click for me either Insta-love much?
Now, Murdock and Lachlan? LOVED them!! probably my favorite parts of the story 👀
So, yes.. the book had potential, the premise and world were interesting and there were moments that really kept me going .. but the execution? just didn’t grab me🥺
Still, I can totally see why others are enjoying this !🔥
Thank you to V.A. Child and Luna Literary for the ARC of this beautifully written fantasy!
From the very first page, Blessed by the Light pulled me into a world brimming with magic, danger, and destiny. The story follows three characters bound by fate, each connected by a magical bond that could either save or destroy their kingdom. I loved watching how their relationships evolved from distrust and tension to deep emotional connection. It’s the kind of slow build that makes every moment between them feel earned.
And that twist. I did not see it coming!
The world building feels rich and atmospheric, the stakes are high, and the emotional tension keeps you turning the pages long into the night. If you enjoy fantasy with heart, heat, and a touch of darkness, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
💫 Why Choose 🔥 Slow Burn ⚔️ Enemies to Lovers 🏡 Found Family 🌙 Fated Mates 🕯️ Forced Proximity --
(Disclaimer) I received this book for free as an ARC reader, the author has no influence over my review. This is my first read by the author. I’m not an English native speaker and my review might be influenced by this.
Years of war with the Rebellion have left the Kingdom of Gaia a dead, desolate place. Blessed with a vision of a haven for her people, Nessa, the High Priestess’s daughter, goes on a mission to see if her premonition is true. But when fate intervenes, she finds herself a prisoner of the rebellion, thrust into their war with a shadow magic coven.
The writing was good and detailed, but too often it seemed like paragraphs explaining how they got to some point were missing. It made the reading confusing. I had difficulty connecting with the MCs and a hard time seeing their connection. The story itself was dragging. After about a third of the book, I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to continue reading. I DNF’ed about halfway through.
This was an interesting book. We have a few MMCs and our FMC, Nessa. Our MMCs are the strong personalities, the protector/warrior which paired nicely with our determined and slightly innocent FMC. There’s a unique balance between them all that works for the story. There are some parts that made the story seem to drag on but overall it was interesting to watch the dynamic work out and kept you wanting and waiting. The ending and epilogue didn’t work for me. The ending seemed rushed and the epilogue left me a little confused.
I received this book as an advanced reviewer copy for free and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I was not expecting that ending, and it was extremely rude. I have mixed feelings about Nessa (the FMC) because there were things about her character I liked, but there were also things about her character and decisions she made that irrated me. I really liked Aarron (one of the MMCs), and I absolutely LOVED Lachlan (the other MMC), he was the character I felt the most connected to as well as my favorite part of the book. My second favorite part of the book was Murdock, one of the side characters! I just absolutely loved his character. I liked the magic system and the world a lot and was very hooked into the book (especially Nessa and Lachlan's romance)! I did, however, have a hard time with this writing style at times. I had a hard time connecting with characters, especially towards the beginning of the book, and while I liked the magic and the world, some of the world building felt a little bit glossed over which made it a little confusing at times. But overall, I had a good time with it. And (especially after that ending), I absolutely plan to read the next book once it comes out! (ARC Review)
Lachlan, my man my man my man! And can’t forget Aaron! Nessa is one lucky duck.
What happens when life as you knew it, isn’t actually how life is? When you’ve been caged for so long and you finally break free and explode (almost literally when her magic finally comes out). You escape one prison for another prison of sorts.
The world built by Child was very unique and interesting. The characters were written well (although at times I wanted to shake them). The plot is there but at times became a little fuddled due to the writing style but there nonetheless!
That ending though, ugh! Now I’ll be patiently waiting for book two!
Thanks so much V.A. Child and Luna Literary Management for the book. I was given this book as an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review completely voluntarily.
This was the author’s debut novel, and while it has some rough edges, I genuinely enjoyed the unique magical world and its dark, mystical atmosphere. The pacing is decent, not lightning-fast, but it hooked me within a few chapters. Nessa was a strong FMC who stayed true to herself, which I appreciated. The three MMCs each brought something different to the table, and honestly, I still can’t decide which one I liked most. Their group dynamic gave off found family energy that made me even more invested.
The world-building was solid and layered with magic, politics, and history that didn’t feel like a rehash of anything I’d read lately. I definitely see potential for more books set in this world and would read them. As for the ending, I have mega mixed feelings. It was NOT what I expected, and I’m still not over it. I really hope the next book keeps the same characters because I’m not ready to let them go.
Yes, it has some slower moments (especially early on with a bit of info-dumping), but trust me, just push through. It absolutely gets better, and by the second half, I was fully in. If you’re into paranormal fantasy with a “why-choose” romance, prophecy, and slow-burn tension, this one’s worth checking out.
Happy reading friends, ~ Maebae 💚
I’m a fellow book lover reviewing the good, the bad, and everything bookish in-between. All thoughts, opinions, and reactions are completely my own. I wasn’t paid, sponsored, or influenced in any way.
The beginning of this book was good. The writing was amazing. I enjoyed the 1st half a lot. I wish that we could have seen Nessa's character grow with her increasing powers. I feel like that was a huge disservice to her. She's supposed to be so powerful but her character growth just wasn't there. The ending was really disappointing and confusing to me.
Where to begin with this one.. usually I’m able to see some twists and turns coming but I didn’t with this one. That ending was brutal. I can’t wait for the next one. I need it.
This was a great read! Nessa is a strong, determined FMC, and the world building with magic, rebellion, and mysterious twists kept me hooked. Definitely curious to see what happens next in the series!
Great debut fantasy book!!! Well done!! Received this as an advanced read and am voluntarily leaving a review. Nessa is so strong and fierce but she stays true to path and herself. Lachlan is chef’s kiss! Truly excited about this book and series!! Cannot wait for book 2!!
I went into this one blind, simply expecting just another fantasy, but it was such a beautiful surprise.
While you might not get extensive world building, I felt the book was more centered on the characters' personal stories rather than the world around them. The relationships were developed beautifully, and the suspense kept me on my toes, always wondering what would happen next.
SPOILER ALERT
I cannot believe I have to wait until 2026 for book 2! The ending was devastating, but at the same time, it was so good. The story made me smile, swoon, and cry all over the place. This was perfect!
There were a few things that left me confused, but I understand this is just the first book and more like a prelude to the story. I really cannot wait for book 2!
I don’t think there was anything particularly wrong with this book I just couldn’t get hooked right away. I may come back to it in the future and give it another chance!