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Before We Burn: Born from Ashes Trilogy
Marzana was once death in the dark. Now she teaches others not to become her.
At Bloodlust Academy, hidden in the shadows of a world fraying at its edges, ex-assassin Marzana—Marz to those brave enough to speak her name—teaches young vampires how to control their hunger, power, and rage.
But when the academy is raided by human forces and her students are stolen for something far worse than death, the mask of peace begins to crack. War is stirring again and it’s coming for her.
In the chaos, a human soldier throws himself into harm’s way to save her. Everett Hill should be her enemy. Instead, he bleeds in her arms and against every instinct, she takes him in.
He’s searching for something too, the Council of Five, and the one among them who can wield the power of truth. Everett wants answers about what happened to his family. Marz wants her students back and maybe, for once, to stop running from who she was.
But as they draw closer to the heart of the conflict, Marz begins to fear that the end of the war won’t bring peace… only truths she may never be able to live with.
At Bloodlust Academy, hidden in the shadows of a world fraying at its edges, ex-assassin Marzana—Marz to those brave enough to speak her name—teaches young vampires how to control their hunger, power, and rage.
But when the academy is raided by human forces and her students are stolen for something far worse than death, the mask of peace begins to crack. War is stirring again and it’s coming for her.
In the chaos, a human soldier throws himself into harm’s way to save her. Everett Hill should be her enemy. Instead, he bleeds in her arms and against every instinct, she takes him in.
He’s searching for something too, the Council of Five, and the one among them who can wield the power of truth. Everett wants answers about what happened to his family. Marz wants her students back and maybe, for once, to stop running from who she was.
But as they draw closer to the heart of the conflict, Marz begins to fear that the end of the war won’t bring peace… only truths she may never be able to live with.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
September 24, 2026
★ ★ ★.5
I really wanted to love this one more than I did.
There were moments where I was completely pulled in, and others where I felt like I’d lost the thread entirely. There is so much happening here — so many characters, pieces of lore, shifting dynamics and moving parts — that the story started to feel a little chaotic for me, and I found myself trying to catch up rather than simply letting the story take me where it wanted to go.
But the characters are what kept me invested.
Bunny was such a joy to read. There’s something about her that made every scene she was in a little more alive, and I genuinely wanted more of her. I also really loved Benny and Connie’s relationship. Their dynamic felt like one of those quieter threads running through the story that I found myself holding onto when everything else started getting a little overwhelming.
And Marz. We love a badass FMC in this house!! She is exactly the kind of woman I want to follow into whatever mess comes next — capable, complicated, and more than willing to hold her own.
In the end, I think this is a book where I connected more deeply with the characters than I did with the story itself. There’s clearly a much bigger world being built here, and while some of the setup lost me along the way, I’m still curious enough to want to see where it goes!
A little messy, a little chaotic, but with enough here that I’m not ready to let these people go just yet.
I really wanted to love this one more than I did.
There were moments where I was completely pulled in, and others where I felt like I’d lost the thread entirely. There is so much happening here — so many characters, pieces of lore, shifting dynamics and moving parts — that the story started to feel a little chaotic for me, and I found myself trying to catch up rather than simply letting the story take me where it wanted to go.
But the characters are what kept me invested.
Bunny was such a joy to read. There’s something about her that made every scene she was in a little more alive, and I genuinely wanted more of her. I also really loved Benny and Connie’s relationship. Their dynamic felt like one of those quieter threads running through the story that I found myself holding onto when everything else started getting a little overwhelming.
And Marz. We love a badass FMC in this house!! She is exactly the kind of woman I want to follow into whatever mess comes next — capable, complicated, and more than willing to hold her own.
In the end, I think this is a book where I connected more deeply with the characters than I did with the story itself. There’s clearly a much bigger world being built here, and while some of the setup lost me along the way, I’m still curious enough to want to see where it goes!
A little messy, a little chaotic, but with enough here that I’m not ready to let these people go just yet.
Review of advance copy received from Author
WE REIGNING!
One of my most anticipated reads of 2026 and I was blessed with an ARC!
Ophelia gave me what I needed in a badass FMC, the most serious, yet unserious MMC, a true ride or die bestie, and a villian who keeps a bit too close. A reminder of just how much found family sings to me.
My favorite hands down has to be Bunny, but you'll just have to jump in to see why. Right behind her is tied between Marz and Connie. I am always drawn to those who were dealt a not so lucky hand and rise against it and become the most resilient version of themselves.
EVERETT! The sweet soldier he is. Seeing him have his entire world rocked and try to find some new normal gave me life! I saw a lot of myself in him and his coping mechanisms and while I had to stop and reevaluate myself a time or two I just wanna give that man a hug and tell him we got this.
This is a banger. & if you get a chance to check out some of the art for this it just ties it all together sooooo beautifully. Excellent job my babes!
One of my most anticipated reads of 2026 and I was blessed with an ARC!
Ophelia gave me what I needed in a badass FMC, the most serious, yet unserious MMC, a true ride or die bestie, and a villian who keeps a bit too close. A reminder of just how much found family sings to me.
My favorite hands down has to be Bunny, but you'll just have to jump in to see why. Right behind her is tied between Marz and Connie. I am always drawn to those who were dealt a not so lucky hand and rise against it and become the most resilient version of themselves.
EVERETT! The sweet soldier he is. Seeing him have his entire world rocked and try to find some new normal gave me life! I saw a lot of myself in him and his coping mechanisms and while I had to stop and reevaluate myself a time or two I just wanna give that man a hug and tell him we got this.
This is a banger. & if you get a chance to check out some of the art for this it just ties it all together sooooo beautifully. Excellent job my babes!
Review of advance copy received from Author
➸ 5/5 stars
Sometimes when I am so engaged in a book I forget to breathe and because I have asthma that is extremely bad. So of course I kept having to remind myself to breathe while reading this book. This was a book that was amazing from start to finish. From the found family trope to the foreshadowing to the sheer beautiful way the plot was written I am baffled. Vampires meets a dystopian society was a combination I didn't know I needed until now and now I want more!
Marzana is exactly who she thinks she is and so much more. I love when I can connect with a character with my whole heart. She is so much more than the thoughts in her head and I’m glad I got to read and experience her growth. I support women's wrongs 100% when it's showcased in a fantasy book so I am so excited for the sheer anger and power Marzana is gonna unleash on this world in book 2. I’m at the point that if she came out of my kindle and punched me in the face I would smile from ear to ear. Marzana reminds of a phoenix, she was rebuilt from the ashes not destroyed. She is a character who has to kill her former self to be reborn again and I’m once again so proud.
Everett freaking Hill is the combination of everything I would want in a man much less a fictional character. He stood ten toes down on everything he did and especially when it came to Marzana. I love when hot people date but more importantly I love when two hot freaking book characters fall in love! Top ten experience and I recommend it every. single. time!
Thank you Benny, Constantine, and Bunny because while you guys were written to be side characters you were so much more. With all of this being said I need book two by tomorrow actually and I’m NOT playing! My whole chest hurts right now and it's the only thing I’m asking for.
Thank you Ophelia Reign once again for my eARC!! Pub date: September 09, 2026.
Other quotes I enjoyed:
“Death isn’t something that cares about beauty or hopes and dreams. Just the natural order. Balance.”
Sometimes when I am so engaged in a book I forget to breathe and because I have asthma that is extremely bad. So of course I kept having to remind myself to breathe while reading this book. This was a book that was amazing from start to finish. From the found family trope to the foreshadowing to the sheer beautiful way the plot was written I am baffled. Vampires meets a dystopian society was a combination I didn't know I needed until now and now I want more!
“To live, you must die.”
Marzana is exactly who she thinks she is and so much more. I love when I can connect with a character with my whole heart. She is so much more than the thoughts in her head and I’m glad I got to read and experience her growth. I support women's wrongs 100% when it's showcased in a fantasy book so I am so excited for the sheer anger and power Marzana is gonna unleash on this world in book 2. I’m at the point that if she came out of my kindle and punched me in the face I would smile from ear to ear. Marzana reminds of a phoenix, she was rebuilt from the ashes not destroyed. She is a character who has to kill her former self to be reborn again and I’m once again so proud.
“i think it would be hard for anyone to not love you.”
Everett freaking Hill is the combination of everything I would want in a man much less a fictional character. He stood ten toes down on everything he did and especially when it came to Marzana. I love when hot people date but more importantly I love when two hot freaking book characters fall in love! Top ten experience and I recommend it every. single. time!
“I’m with you, ‘til the end, Marazana.”
Thank you Benny, Constantine, and Bunny because while you guys were written to be side characters you were so much more. With all of this being said I need book two by tomorrow actually and I’m NOT playing! My whole chest hurts right now and it's the only thing I’m asking for.
Thank you Ophelia Reign once again for my eARC!! Pub date: September 09, 2026.
Other quotes I enjoyed:
“Pop, goes the weasel.”
“She gave me the gift of knowing my name.”
“You are the most beautiful person in this world. I see past the wall, Constantine. I see you.”
“That’s a very pissed off anchor. She’s giving her children a wake up call. It’s time for war.”
“There is no such thing as the greater good, because we all have some evil in us. The prettiest flowers can still lure bugs to their death.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
🖤 Dark Academia Vibes
🔥 Dystopian Vampires
🖤 Social Critique
🔥 Found Family
🖤 Feminine Rage
Wow! I loved this so much. Complex characters, a dystopian world—with ongoing battles between witches, humans, and vampires—with fantastic pining and multiple POVs.
•
Marzana has lived lifetimes of pain and destruction—now choosing a quieter life, teaching newly turned vampires to rein in their powers at Bloodlust Academy. She loathes humans, who have forced vampires into hiding with constant threats against their existence. That is, until there is a planned attack on the academy, threatening her students, and a human man named Everett intervenes to stop an attack on Marz. Soon, she finds herself grappling with their shared plight and fighting for a better future for everyone.
•
Fast-paced and multi-POV, this book has so much layered social critique set within a dystopian society where witches, humans, and vampires all fight unseen forces and each other for autonomy. I loved the depth of Marzana's character; while outwardly fierce and confident, she has a lot of hidden empathy and vulnerability in a world that refuses to let her be who she is. Add Constantine, her sassy and no-nonsense best friend, and together they would bring any man standing in their way to his KNEES. Everett (MMC) shows a more openly gentle side and is searching for answers about his own existence, and Marzana begrudgingly accepts his help to stop the attacks on her people by leveraging his access to the humans at the head of the operation that employs him.
I loved the found-family vibe among Marz, Constantine, Everett, Benny, and Bunny. With the vampires initially hesitant about the humans, the dynamic that develops between the couples is a lot of fun, with some great pining also shown from Everett's POV. Everyone in this book is insanely HOT. And we need to talk about the ending—because while I did see parts of it coming, that ending was RUDE.
I can't wait to see how the story unfolds as this series continues! It's such a unique blend of dystopian, academia, and paranormal characters, and I can't wait to spend more time with these characters.
•
Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and feedback contained within this review are my own.
🔥 Dystopian Vampires
🖤 Social Critique
🔥 Found Family
🖤 Feminine Rage
Wow! I loved this so much. Complex characters, a dystopian world—with ongoing battles between witches, humans, and vampires—with fantastic pining and multiple POVs.
•
Marzana has lived lifetimes of pain and destruction—now choosing a quieter life, teaching newly turned vampires to rein in their powers at Bloodlust Academy. She loathes humans, who have forced vampires into hiding with constant threats against their existence. That is, until there is a planned attack on the academy, threatening her students, and a human man named Everett intervenes to stop an attack on Marz. Soon, she finds herself grappling with their shared plight and fighting for a better future for everyone.
•
Fast-paced and multi-POV, this book has so much layered social critique set within a dystopian society where witches, humans, and vampires all fight unseen forces and each other for autonomy. I loved the depth of Marzana's character; while outwardly fierce and confident, she has a lot of hidden empathy and vulnerability in a world that refuses to let her be who she is. Add Constantine, her sassy and no-nonsense best friend, and together they would bring any man standing in their way to his KNEES. Everett (MMC) shows a more openly gentle side and is searching for answers about his own existence, and Marzana begrudgingly accepts his help to stop the attacks on her people by leveraging his access to the humans at the head of the operation that employs him.
I loved the found-family vibe among Marz, Constantine, Everett, Benny, and Bunny. With the vampires initially hesitant about the humans, the dynamic that develops between the couples is a lot of fun, with some great pining also shown from Everett's POV. Everyone in this book is insanely HOT. And we need to talk about the ending—because while I did see parts of it coming, that ending was RUDE.
I can't wait to see how the story unfolds as this series continues! It's such a unique blend of dystopian, academia, and paranormal characters, and I can't wait to spend more time with these characters.
•
Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and feedback contained within this review are my own.
August 22, 2026
4.25⭐️ a dystopian dark academia book with vampires, witches, and humans with some romance sprinkled in?? yes please!!
This book is going to need to be on everyone’s spooky season tbr. There has been a raging war between vampires, witches, and humans and in this we follow Marzana who is an ex assassin turned professor who teaches newly turned vampires how to control their special abilities. There’s an attack on the academy by soldiers and Everett, who is on of them, ends up saving Marzana from a uv bullet.
This sets them on a path with two seasoned vampires, a newly turned vampire with very special abilities, and two soldiers.
This book had some incredibly badass female characters. I’m beyond obsessed with Marzana and Constantine. Bunny is a little weird but she had my whole heart 😭😭 and Everett and Benny were yearninggg over these two women! The dynamic between this group was amazing and I definitely laughed out loud multiple times.
This book has the perfect mixture of mystery, action, feminine rage, romance and spice. Need book 2 asap!!
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy!
This book is going to need to be on everyone’s spooky season tbr. There has been a raging war between vampires, witches, and humans and in this we follow Marzana who is an ex assassin turned professor who teaches newly turned vampires how to control their special abilities. There’s an attack on the academy by soldiers and Everett, who is on of them, ends up saving Marzana from a uv bullet.
This sets them on a path with two seasoned vampires, a newly turned vampire with very special abilities, and two soldiers.
This book had some incredibly badass female characters. I’m beyond obsessed with Marzana and Constantine. Bunny is a little weird but she had my whole heart 😭😭 and Everett and Benny were yearninggg over these two women! The dynamic between this group was amazing and I definitely laughed out loud multiple times.
This book has the perfect mixture of mystery, action, feminine rage, romance and spice. Need book 2 asap!!
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy!
June 14, 2026
Thank you Ophelia for the ARC!
Wow. Honestly, the last 15% kind of has me .. speechless.
Marz, I LOVE. Bunny, my baby. Everett, 🫂. Benny, 🤨
Most of our core group had me invested from their first appearance. Like, the way this family gets found. 😮💨 Forced to face their trauma, then BOND? Please! ❤️🩹
Marzana is clearly a badass, naturally fierce protector. Every act she does ultimately laced with genuine care. All while her attitude screams “you should know better than to fuck with me” to anyone else. I’m so excited to see more on-page as she embraces her monster. Oh, & I am yeeeaaarrrrning for more Connie, too! My girl! 💛 I just really want to see everybody in full form— RAGING. 👿 Especially with that ending. 🥲
This read is an easy one to get into, but I would consider it a bit of a slow start. The builder book, 1 of 3, you know. But by the end, I’m definitely left wanting more. In a good way! 😏 I really can’t say more without getting spoiler-y. But I had a good time with this one. Even though my chest hurts rn. 🫠
Wow. Honestly, the last 15% kind of has me .. speechless.
Marz, I LOVE. Bunny, my baby. Everett, 🫂. Benny, 🤨
Most of our core group had me invested from their first appearance. Like, the way this family gets found. 😮💨 Forced to face their trauma, then BOND? Please! ❤️🩹
Marzana is clearly a badass, naturally fierce protector. Every act she does ultimately laced with genuine care. All while her attitude screams “you should know better than to fuck with me” to anyone else. I’m so excited to see more on-page as she embraces her monster. Oh, & I am yeeeaaarrrrning for more Connie, too! My girl! 💛 I just really want to see everybody in full form— RAGING. 👿 Especially with that ending. 🥲
This read is an easy one to get into, but I would consider it a bit of a slow start. The builder book, 1 of 3, you know. But by the end, I’m definitely left wanting more. In a good way! 😏 I really can’t say more without getting spoiler-y. But I had a good time with this one. Even though my chest hurts rn. 🫠
Review of advance copy received from Author
10/10 no notes!
I loved all of the main characters and found myself giggling or crying (or blushing) the entire book!
I’m so excited for this series and highly recommend it.
It’s got vampires and witches and lots of depth. I’ll probably do a reread before book 2 and I am already looking forward to it.
I loved all of the main characters and found myself giggling or crying (or blushing) the entire book!
I’m so excited for this series and highly recommend it.
It’s got vampires and witches and lots of depth. I’ll probably do a reread before book 2 and I am already looking forward to it.
August 31, 2026
Amazing, I’ll take 10
ARC REVIEW |
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this early ✨🫶🏾
Whew!
Alexander when I see you and your white eyebrow… you can catch these hands
All Marzana wants is to live the soft life and these people keep trying her 😩😭
Everett is SUCH a cinnamon roll - he’s down bad for Marz, a vampire he’s supposed to hate according to what he was taught growing up, and he just doesn’t care at this point
Connie has been alive for too long and has had enough of dealing with people… until she met Benny 😏 And for some reason, he’s also attracted to the grumpy, scary af vampire
And to complete the group we have Bunny 🥹 She’s just a baby vamp turned way too young
Bunny gave me Sibby vibes a lil bit 👀 if you know you know. She’s creepy as hell, but Marz loves her like she’s her own, and she just wants to keep her safe.
Those last few chapters had me reading with a hand on my head. Because how could you do this to us?? I-
I was speechless
I loved this
I could easily read this again and I love that for me!
I need Book 2 injected directly into my veins ASAP.
ARC REVIEW |
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this early ✨🫶🏾
Whew!
Alexander when I see you and your white eyebrow… you can catch these hands
All Marzana wants is to live the soft life and these people keep trying her 😩😭
Everett is SUCH a cinnamon roll - he’s down bad for Marz, a vampire he’s supposed to hate according to what he was taught growing up, and he just doesn’t care at this point
Connie has been alive for too long and has had enough of dealing with people… until she met Benny 😏 And for some reason, he’s also attracted to the grumpy, scary af vampire
And to complete the group we have Bunny 🥹 She’s just a baby vamp turned way too young
Bunny gave me Sibby vibes a lil bit 👀 if you know you know. She’s creepy as hell, but Marz loves her like she’s her own, and she just wants to keep her safe.
Those last few chapters had me reading with a hand on my head. Because how could you do this to us?? I-
I was speechless
I loved this
I could easily read this again and I love that for me!
I need Book 2 injected directly into my veins ASAP.
September 20, 2026
Chyle... this book was a hot ass mess. This book took me much longer to finish than expected, and unfortunately, it left me feeling more confused than satisfied. Even after finishing it, I honestly couldn't tell you what the story was about beyond the general themes the author seemed to be exploring.
The biggest issue for me was the execution. The writing felt thin, the world-building lacked depth, and the character development never fully landed. I could see what the author was attempting to do, but the story itself felt underdeveloped. As a fantasy reader, I want to feel immersed in the world, but instead I felt like I was reading a summary of events rather than experiencing an actual story.
The plot was especially difficult to follow. Characters appeared with little to no introduction, motivations were unclear, and major conflicts lacked sufficient explanation. For example, Onyx is introduced midway through the book, yet I still finished without fully understanding who he was, why he murdered his family, or what his larger role in the story was.
The central conflict was equally confusing. There is supposedly a war taking place, but the dynamics between the humans, vampires, witches, and werewolves never felt clearly defined. Humans seem to be hunting witches and using them to create weapons, vampires appear to be trying to exist peacefully, and yet I never fully understood who was fighting whom or why.
The political elements also lacked credibility. The vampire council is presented as ancient, powerful, and influential, yet they are easily manipulated and betrayed without noticing.
To make matters worse, the romance between Everett and Marzana felt like pure insta-love. Their connection happened so quickly that I never became emotionally invested in their relationship.
Overall, this book had interesting ideas, but the storytelling needed much more development. I wanted stronger world-building, clearer motivations, and a more cohesive plot. Instead, I was left feeling confused and disconnected from both the story and its characters. It’s a planned duology so maybe questions will be answered but I don’t think the second book will make up for the lack of depth. The author didn’t provide enough development for me to care about unresolved mysteries. So even if Book 2 is better it’s not going to take away from the frustrating reading experience of book 1.
The biggest issue for me was the execution. The writing felt thin, the world-building lacked depth, and the character development never fully landed. I could see what the author was attempting to do, but the story itself felt underdeveloped. As a fantasy reader, I want to feel immersed in the world, but instead I felt like I was reading a summary of events rather than experiencing an actual story.
The plot was especially difficult to follow. Characters appeared with little to no introduction, motivations were unclear, and major conflicts lacked sufficient explanation. For example, Onyx is introduced midway through the book, yet I still finished without fully understanding who he was, why he murdered his family, or what his larger role in the story was.
The central conflict was equally confusing. There is supposedly a war taking place, but the dynamics between the humans, vampires, witches, and werewolves never felt clearly defined. Humans seem to be hunting witches and using them to create weapons, vampires appear to be trying to exist peacefully, and yet I never fully understood who was fighting whom or why.
The political elements also lacked credibility. The vampire council is presented as ancient, powerful, and influential, yet they are easily manipulated and betrayed without noticing.
To make matters worse, the romance between Everett and Marzana felt like pure insta-love. Their connection happened so quickly that I never became emotionally invested in their relationship.
Overall, this book had interesting ideas, but the storytelling needed much more development. I wanted stronger world-building, clearer motivations, and a more cohesive plot. Instead, I was left feeling confused and disconnected from both the story and its characters. It’s a planned duology so maybe questions will be answered but I don’t think the second book will make up for the lack of depth. The author didn’t provide enough development for me to care about unresolved mysteries. So even if Book 2 is better it’s not going to take away from the frustrating reading experience of book 1.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2026
“The prettiest flowers can still lure bugs to their death.”
If you are looking for a dystopian fantasy:
-bad ass, cut throat FMC
-vampires, witches, & humans
-majority Black cast
-secret identities
-unlikely allies
-romantic subplot
-feminine rage
-violence, murder & revenge
-soft spice
-under 330 pages
*Playlist & Trigger Warnings Included*
Wow. Wow. Wow.
I went through so many emotions reading this.
An effortless 5 star read.
The world building was exceptional. There were elements of vampiric & witch lore that I’ve never seen in other fantasies. The level of addictive originality had me unable to put this down. This was vivid, & beautifully written. I felt like I was binge watching a TV show.
The characters were lovable, & multilayered with pure chaotic individuality. Each character had special things about them that made them stand out. You either loved them and all their chaos or you hated them entirely.
I did not want this to end!
I laughed, I cried, I cussed & that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There is something for everyone in this book. If you love Black vampires, witches & magic where the characters feels like US, this is for you. If you like your murder to be bloody, gruesome & unrelenting, this is for you. If you like soft romance to balance out the darkest moments within your fantasy books, this is for you.
This was easily one of my favorite ARCs of 2026!
Ophelia Reign decided to take this duology and create a trilogy. I am here for it! It is well deserved. I cannot wait to see how the story unfolds.
If you are looking for a dystopian fantasy:
-bad ass, cut throat FMC
-vampires, witches, & humans
-majority Black cast
-secret identities
-unlikely allies
-romantic subplot
-feminine rage
-violence, murder & revenge
-soft spice
-under 330 pages
*Playlist & Trigger Warnings Included*
Wow. Wow. Wow.
I went through so many emotions reading this.
An effortless 5 star read.
The world building was exceptional. There were elements of vampiric & witch lore that I’ve never seen in other fantasies. The level of addictive originality had me unable to put this down. This was vivid, & beautifully written. I felt like I was binge watching a TV show.
The characters were lovable, & multilayered with pure chaotic individuality. Each character had special things about them that made them stand out. You either loved them and all their chaos or you hated them entirely.
I did not want this to end!
I laughed, I cried, I cussed & that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There is something for everyone in this book. If you love Black vampires, witches & magic where the characters feels like US, this is for you. If you like your murder to be bloody, gruesome & unrelenting, this is for you. If you like soft romance to balance out the darkest moments within your fantasy books, this is for you.
This was easily one of my favorite ARCs of 2026!
Ophelia Reign decided to take this duology and create a trilogy. I am here for it! It is well deserved. I cannot wait to see how the story unfolds.
June 9, 2026
Thank you to Ophelia Reign for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"I was dangerous. I am dangerous. And I don't plan on changing anytime soon."
📚The Rundown: 📚
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐
Spice Level: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶
Genre: Paranormal Dystopian fiction
Tropes: Found family, oppressive government, Assassin x Soldier, Enemies to lovers.
🚨Content / Trigger Warnings:🚨
Violence, psychological and emotional manipulation, trauma, On page open door sex (consensual), Possible grooming of a child (not on page, not even described, but I feel it was implied when events were revealed), Implication of SA (Not described, not explicitly stated but the story points to that in one of the Character's past).
📖The Story/Setting:📖
"…Frankly, humans taste terrible these days. Too much salt, too much protein."
This is book 1 of a trilogy and it is off to a VERY strong start! The Humans, Vampires, and Witches have been at War for over 300 years. Our Main Character Marzana (Marz) is a "retired" assassin who is trying to find absolution for the blood on her hands by assisting the newly turned young vampires in adjusting to life as a vampire. The world humans witches and vampires occupy now no longer has the boarders or climate we remember, and even though it does not have zombies, it does have abject poverty, military indoctrination, fascism, and betrayal. But even in these dire conditions, there is friendship, love, and hope.
In this world, All vampires awaken with a "gift"; an extra supernatural ability obtained once they are turned. Marzanna has one that is very unique.
👫Characters👫
Marzana (Marz)
"Watching centuries pass by does nothing but make you miserable."
Marz is going down as one of my favorite FMCs of all time. She is deeply complex, and layered with melancholy, a healthy dose of cynicism, kindness, and surprising softness. She is so well balanced and I love to see her discover truths, plan, and interact with the other characters. Her friendship with Constatine (Connie) is one of my favorite friendships to read about. Surviving the trauma of being turned, having the unique and invasive power she has, discovering betrayals and plots, all while trying to keep it together under the watchful eye of Alexander, her "Boss" makes her so compelling and very relatable.
Constantine (Connie)
"Seduction is a powerful tool when used the right way. Persuasion is an even stronger tools, especially if you can fool people into thinking it's only seduction."
Connie is a cold, stand-offish, somewhat solitary vampire, and very old. No one gets close to her, except for Marz. Their friendship has seen them both through a lot of difficult times, but they always have each other to lean on.
My Reading Experience
🤔
I highly recommend this book if you want a character driven story, because the characters really shine in this book, even the "side" characters; honestly I struggle to classify any of these characters as "side" characters; they are all vital to the story and each other's development.
Ophelia's world building is so much fun, so easy to read, and fun to jump into. The pacing was excellent to me, there was action or development throughout the book and it kept me engaged the whole time.
I also love the way we can make parallels between the way certain groups of people are treated today, and the way Witches and Vampires are treated and used. I think two quotes sum it up wonderfully:
"Witches aren't people here, and human rights were for humans in their eyes."
"For a Country that hates to see witches living their lives, they sure love to use the weapons they create."
What I liked😊
· The friendship between Connie and Marz is my favorite thing ever.
· The feminine rage
· Bunny ❤
· The growth of Emmett!
· Marz learning about her past
· The entire world, the setting, the buildup to the main event/standoff.
What I didn't Like 🙁
· Alexander. That is all!
🌟Standout Moments 🌟
****Light spoilers ahead!****
Favorite dynamic:
Connie X Marz; Best BFFs in Book History.
Benny X Connie
Bunny X Marz
Scene that lingered:
The Entire last 20 pages. I will never forgive Ophelia for the way she threw my emotions in the air and waved them like she just don't care.
Favorite Quote:
Bunny to Marzana: "You're too good for this world, Marzana Popov. No Matter what evil you harbor. You. Are. Good."
Final Thoughts
I cannot WAIT for the next installment. This book gave me everything I needed; Black Vampires, Best friends, found family, reclaimed power, Dystopian desolation, fighting against fascism, action, and good pacing.
"I was dangerous. I am dangerous. And I don't plan on changing anytime soon."
📚The Rundown: 📚
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐
Spice Level: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶
Genre: Paranormal Dystopian fiction
Tropes: Found family, oppressive government, Assassin x Soldier, Enemies to lovers.
🚨Content / Trigger Warnings:🚨
Violence, psychological and emotional manipulation, trauma, On page open door sex (consensual), Possible grooming of a child (not on page, not even described, but I feel it was implied when events were revealed), Implication of SA (Not described, not explicitly stated but the story points to that in one of the Character's past).
📖The Story/Setting:📖
"…Frankly, humans taste terrible these days. Too much salt, too much protein."
This is book 1 of a trilogy and it is off to a VERY strong start! The Humans, Vampires, and Witches have been at War for over 300 years. Our Main Character Marzana (Marz) is a "retired" assassin who is trying to find absolution for the blood on her hands by assisting the newly turned young vampires in adjusting to life as a vampire. The world humans witches and vampires occupy now no longer has the boarders or climate we remember, and even though it does not have zombies, it does have abject poverty, military indoctrination, fascism, and betrayal. But even in these dire conditions, there is friendship, love, and hope.
In this world, All vampires awaken with a "gift"; an extra supernatural ability obtained once they are turned. Marzanna has one that is very unique.
👫Characters👫
Marzana (Marz)
"Watching centuries pass by does nothing but make you miserable."
Marz is going down as one of my favorite FMCs of all time. She is deeply complex, and layered with melancholy, a healthy dose of cynicism, kindness, and surprising softness. She is so well balanced and I love to see her discover truths, plan, and interact with the other characters. Her friendship with Constatine (Connie) is one of my favorite friendships to read about. Surviving the trauma of being turned, having the unique and invasive power she has, discovering betrayals and plots, all while trying to keep it together under the watchful eye of Alexander, her "Boss" makes her so compelling and very relatable.
Constantine (Connie)
"Seduction is a powerful tool when used the right way. Persuasion is an even stronger tools, especially if you can fool people into thinking it's only seduction."
Connie is a cold, stand-offish, somewhat solitary vampire, and very old. No one gets close to her, except for Marz. Their friendship has seen them both through a lot of difficult times, but they always have each other to lean on.
My Reading Experience
🤔
I highly recommend this book if you want a character driven story, because the characters really shine in this book, even the "side" characters; honestly I struggle to classify any of these characters as "side" characters; they are all vital to the story and each other's development.
Ophelia's world building is so much fun, so easy to read, and fun to jump into. The pacing was excellent to me, there was action or development throughout the book and it kept me engaged the whole time.
I also love the way we can make parallels between the way certain groups of people are treated today, and the way Witches and Vampires are treated and used. I think two quotes sum it up wonderfully:
"Witches aren't people here, and human rights were for humans in their eyes."
"For a Country that hates to see witches living their lives, they sure love to use the weapons they create."
What I liked😊
· The friendship between Connie and Marz is my favorite thing ever.
· The feminine rage
· Bunny ❤
· The growth of Emmett!
· Marz learning about her past
· The entire world, the setting, the buildup to the main event/standoff.
What I didn't Like 🙁
· Alexander. That is all!
🌟Standout Moments 🌟
****Light spoilers ahead!****
Favorite dynamic:
Connie X Marz; Best BFFs in Book History.
Benny X Connie
Bunny X Marz
Scene that lingered:
The Entire last 20 pages. I will never forgive Ophelia for the way she threw my emotions in the air and waved them like she just don't care.
Favorite Quote:
Bunny to Marzana: "You're too good for this world, Marzana Popov. No Matter what evil you harbor. You. Are. Good."
Final Thoughts
I cannot WAIT for the next installment. This book gave me everything I needed; Black Vampires, Best friends, found family, reclaimed power, Dystopian desolation, fighting against fascism, action, and good pacing.
September 15, 2026
When the Enemy Bleeds, Desire Bites Back
Dark, dangerous, bloody, and packed with the kind of vampire tension that makes it very easy to lose track of time.
Marzana is exactly the kind of heroine who immediately grabs attention. Once an assassin known as death in the dark, she is now trying to teach young vampires how to control the very instincts she spent years mastering herself. There is something incredibly compelling about a character who has survived by becoming a monster and is now desperately trying to make sure others do not follow the same path.
Then comes Everett Hill, a human soldier who should be her enemy. Naturally, that makes the fact that he ends up in her arms bleeding and vulnerable considerably more interesting. Their dynamic adds a delicious layer of tension to the story, especially as distrust slowly gives way to something neither of them should probably be feeling.
What worked particularly well was the atmosphere. Bloodlust Academy feels dangerous, the world is clearly on the brink of war, and there is always the sense that something much darker is lurking beneath the surface. The story also does a good job of mixing action, secrets, vampire politics, romance, and plenty of morally grey characters without losing sight of Marz and her emotional journey.
The biggest strength is undoubtedly Marz herself. Her past, her guilt, her determination to protect her students, and her struggle with who she used to be give the story an emotional edge that goes beyond the usual vampire fantasy.
The pacing did occasionally feel a little uneven, particularly when the story shifted between the larger conflict and the more personal elements. Some developments could have used a little more room to breathe, but the twists and underlying mysteries kept the pages turning.
And that ending? Definitely the kind that makes stopping at the last page feel slightly rude.
'Before We Burn' delivers vampires, violence, forbidden attraction, secrets, war, and a heroine with enough darkness in her past to keep the story interesting. Not quite a five-star bite, but absolutely enough blood, tension, and intrigue to earn four stars.
Thank you to Tales and Teacups for the ARC. This is my honest, voluntary review.
Black Witches and Vampires | Unlikely Allies | Repressed Memories | Political as F*ck | Dystopian | Not a Romance But Still Spicy | Secret Identities | Mental Health Rep
Dark, dangerous, bloody, and packed with the kind of vampire tension that makes it very easy to lose track of time.
Marzana is exactly the kind of heroine who immediately grabs attention. Once an assassin known as death in the dark, she is now trying to teach young vampires how to control the very instincts she spent years mastering herself. There is something incredibly compelling about a character who has survived by becoming a monster and is now desperately trying to make sure others do not follow the same path.
Then comes Everett Hill, a human soldier who should be her enemy. Naturally, that makes the fact that he ends up in her arms bleeding and vulnerable considerably more interesting. Their dynamic adds a delicious layer of tension to the story, especially as distrust slowly gives way to something neither of them should probably be feeling.
What worked particularly well was the atmosphere. Bloodlust Academy feels dangerous, the world is clearly on the brink of war, and there is always the sense that something much darker is lurking beneath the surface. The story also does a good job of mixing action, secrets, vampire politics, romance, and plenty of morally grey characters without losing sight of Marz and her emotional journey.
The biggest strength is undoubtedly Marz herself. Her past, her guilt, her determination to protect her students, and her struggle with who she used to be give the story an emotional edge that goes beyond the usual vampire fantasy.
The pacing did occasionally feel a little uneven, particularly when the story shifted between the larger conflict and the more personal elements. Some developments could have used a little more room to breathe, but the twists and underlying mysteries kept the pages turning.
And that ending? Definitely the kind that makes stopping at the last page feel slightly rude.
'Before We Burn' delivers vampires, violence, forbidden attraction, secrets, war, and a heroine with enough darkness in her past to keep the story interesting. Not quite a five-star bite, but absolutely enough blood, tension, and intrigue to earn four stars.
Thank you to Tales and Teacups for the ARC. This is my honest, voluntary review.
Black Witches and Vampires | Unlikely Allies | Repressed Memories | Political as F*ck | Dystopian | Not a Romance But Still Spicy | Secret Identities | Mental Health Rep
August 28, 2026
Thank you so much to the author for this eARC
This book had so many secrets and betrayals baked into to that I’m still screaming at that ending!
A paranormal dystopian world with vampires, witches, and humans, and the humans are the villains!
Marzana a professor at bloodlust academy needs to act fast when it is raided by the humans, students have been stolen and now she’s trying to track them down. She kidnaps one of the raiders to force them to help!
It’s multi POV, and I loved all of the characters.
I loved how this world was laid out, we got the history throughout that really brought it all together
We have a Capturer / captee trope which is always a good one!
I am so nervous and excited for that next book
This book had so many secrets and betrayals baked into to that I’m still screaming at that ending!
A paranormal dystopian world with vampires, witches, and humans, and the humans are the villains!
Marzana a professor at bloodlust academy needs to act fast when it is raided by the humans, students have been stolen and now she’s trying to track them down. She kidnaps one of the raiders to force them to help!
It’s multi POV, and I loved all of the characters.
I loved how this world was laid out, we got the history throughout that really brought it all together
We have a Capturer / captee trope which is always a good one!
I am so nervous and excited for that next book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 11, 2026✴.·´¯`·.·★ 🎀4.5 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼🎀 ★·.·`¯´·.✴
I had an absolute blast with this! Dystopian-check! Vampires-check! Witches-check!
Marzana was such a layered character for me, and I found myself gravitating to her storyline immediately! I wanted to know more about her and found myself not wanting to put this down! I really appreciated seeing her trying to do the right thing with her immortality after being an assassin.
My sweet sweet Bunny! There aren’t enough words to describe my love for her and Constantine. They shined so brightly as side characters to me, and I absolutely loved when they were on page.
The only thing I wish is that the enemies stayed that way for a bit longer. But I highly recommend this if you want enemies to reluctant allies, paranormal dystopian vibes, and characters you’ll love!
I had an absolute blast with this! Dystopian-check! Vampires-check! Witches-check!
Marzana was such a layered character for me, and I found myself gravitating to her storyline immediately! I wanted to know more about her and found myself not wanting to put this down! I really appreciated seeing her trying to do the right thing with her immortality after being an assassin.
My sweet sweet Bunny! There aren’t enough words to describe my love for her and Constantine. They shined so brightly as side characters to me, and I absolutely loved when they were on page.
The only thing I wish is that the enemies stayed that way for a bit longer. But I highly recommend this if you want enemies to reluctant allies, paranormal dystopian vibes, and characters you’ll love!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2026
Hello all my dystopian paranormal romance friends, this is YOUR READ for the fall months !!
I deeply enjoyed Before We Burn. It’s such a fast read set in an incredibly vivid dystopian, war riddled world and we follow such flushed out main characters. Marzana and Everett are very much their own people and you feel and experience every insecurity they have since meeting each other. Being inside their heads throughout makes this read feel so much more raw than i was initially anticipating. The emphasis of propaganda and taught hatred of people different than you is a stand out theme in this novel and watching Everett specifically unlearn everything is so interesting to follow. Because the found family grows so much this book, I deeply, deeply hope this series is consistently multi pov for the next two books. I feel drawn to the other characters but because I’m not in their head like our main two, I don’t feel as connected as I wish I was.
I will admit, I felt like the pacing in the first half of the book was better than the second half. I feel like once we got to Boston, things felt a bit rushed. The relationship specifically for me. It went from slow burn attraction and slow understanding to insta love and lost me a bit. Overall though, this plot has me hooked and I am so so so excited to see where this will go!!!
Thank you so much to the author for allowing me to have an arc!
I deeply enjoyed Before We Burn. It’s such a fast read set in an incredibly vivid dystopian, war riddled world and we follow such flushed out main characters. Marzana and Everett are very much their own people and you feel and experience every insecurity they have since meeting each other. Being inside their heads throughout makes this read feel so much more raw than i was initially anticipating. The emphasis of propaganda and taught hatred of people different than you is a stand out theme in this novel and watching Everett specifically unlearn everything is so interesting to follow. Because the found family grows so much this book, I deeply, deeply hope this series is consistently multi pov for the next two books. I feel drawn to the other characters but because I’m not in their head like our main two, I don’t feel as connected as I wish I was.
I will admit, I felt like the pacing in the first half of the book was better than the second half. I feel like once we got to Boston, things felt a bit rushed. The relationship specifically for me. It went from slow burn attraction and slow understanding to insta love and lost me a bit. Overall though, this plot has me hooked and I am so so so excited to see where this will go!!!
Thank you so much to the author for allowing me to have an arc!
September 29, 2026
ALL. OF. THE. FEELINGS.
First off - exceptional. This book is marketed as an x-men meets underworld vampire story (and it is!), but it is SO much more.
I don’t want to give too much away, because you have to be present in this book and you have to experience is, so I’ll keep it as non-spoilery as possible.
Writing style is 10/10. It’s fast-paced with something ALWAYS happening. Unique storyline? 100/10. Emotional devastation? 1000/10. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to cry or puke.
This book is such an incredible celebration of the Black community, and as a white reader, I just want to say thank you to Ophelia. Thank you for sharing this with us, thank you for letting us into this world, and thank you for so many aspects of this book. It’s an honor to read.
This book is about vampires, witches, other legendary creatures (again, I don’t want to spoil), with a few awesome twists on the traditional lore. But, this book is also an exploration of what it means to be Black in this world - the injustices, the indignities, but also how the Black community endures in the face of cruelty and adversity.
Your heart will hurt at the end of this book. I can’t wait for book two.
First off - exceptional. This book is marketed as an x-men meets underworld vampire story (and it is!), but it is SO much more.
I don’t want to give too much away, because you have to be present in this book and you have to experience is, so I’ll keep it as non-spoilery as possible.
Writing style is 10/10. It’s fast-paced with something ALWAYS happening. Unique storyline? 100/10. Emotional devastation? 1000/10. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to cry or puke.
This book is such an incredible celebration of the Black community, and as a white reader, I just want to say thank you to Ophelia. Thank you for sharing this with us, thank you for letting us into this world, and thank you for so many aspects of this book. It’s an honor to read.
This book is about vampires, witches, other legendary creatures (again, I don’t want to spoil), with a few awesome twists on the traditional lore. But, this book is also an exploration of what it means to be Black in this world - the injustices, the indignities, but also how the Black community endures in the face of cruelty and adversity.
Your heart will hurt at the end of this book. I can’t wait for book two.
September 14, 2026
Before We Burn was the perfect introduction of vampire ex assassin Marzana… and can I just say? BADDIE! BADDIE BADDIE VAMP ALERT ‼️ 🩸 A powerful 382 year old WOMAN OF COLOR VAMP!? Sign me up fr. I was eating this entire book up. Most of the characters introduced in this book are POC and that’s so special to me. 🥹
The almost immediate found family gets me every-time. Just a group of weird witches, vampires, and humans all working together to try to take down the same enemy(amongst others). Yeah, they have their issues they need to get through and sort out, but they really are their own little gang ugh it’s lovely.
It was emotional, funny, and shocking. I really enjoyed the fight scenes and I’m a sucker for a flashback/ lost in memory moment. I’m enjoying the world building so far too! My favorite character so far is my girl bunny! I love Marzana as the main FMC, but Bunny is just so dear to me 😭 she’s weirdo #1 and I love her for that. She just wants acceptance and found it within these people she’s only known for weeks.
And that ending!? Book two… wya?
The almost immediate found family gets me every-time. Just a group of weird witches, vampires, and humans all working together to try to take down the same enemy(amongst others). Yeah, they have their issues they need to get through and sort out, but they really are their own little gang ugh it’s lovely.
It was emotional, funny, and shocking. I really enjoyed the fight scenes and I’m a sucker for a flashback/ lost in memory moment. I’m enjoying the world building so far too! My favorite character so far is my girl bunny! I love Marzana as the main FMC, but Bunny is just so dear to me 😭 she’s weirdo #1 and I love her for that. She just wants acceptance and found it within these people she’s only known for weeks.
And that ending!? Book two… wya?
Review of advance copy received from Author
I ate this up. So freaking amazing. Dystopian future vampire academy but the professor is a former assassin who reads minds? And she’s amazing! Powerful and tough and self aware. Everything gets tossed into chaos because (human) men because of course it does and Marz is forced into an epic buddy road trip with human Everett (hot and having his eyes forcibly opened to the reality of his world), Connie (even more ancient vampire), Bunny (baby vampire seer) and Benny (human).
Reveals are revealed. Betrayers do betraying. We find out SOOO much about the world that we thought we knew already and it rocks the whole thing.
I went into this expecting a fast paced paranormal dystopian. What I didn’t expect - and absolutely loved reading - was a scathing indictment of fascism and authoritarianism. Since this is the first in the series, I can’t promise how it ends but I LOVE where it’s going and I can’t wait to see Marz unleash her power and return her pain to those who created it.
Thanks so much to the author for the review copy. All opinions are voluntary and honest.
Reveals are revealed. Betrayers do betraying. We find out SOOO much about the world that we thought we knew already and it rocks the whole thing.
I went into this expecting a fast paced paranormal dystopian. What I didn’t expect - and absolutely loved reading - was a scathing indictment of fascism and authoritarianism. Since this is the first in the series, I can’t promise how it ends but I LOVE where it’s going and I can’t wait to see Marz unleash her power and return her pain to those who created it.
Thanks so much to the author for the review copy. All opinions are voluntary and honest.
September 15, 2026
Im full of so many emotions right now.
I was LOCKED IN. The world building had me so invested. Vampires, witches, corrupt leaders, WERWOLVES holy hell I was SAT.
Each character were so intriguing and I fell in love with all of them, well maybe not all of them
👀 A. cough cough
I’m so happy I read Until Dawn prior, because I SQUEALED when Ciro,Nadiya Malcom , and Grayce made an appearance.
Marz & Everett, My heart was tugging on Marz’s past unveiling, and Everett being there, A MAN.
Connie & Benny 🔥 Yeah can’t wait for more of them.
“I don’t know why, but the more scared of her I am. The more I want her.” YESSSSS.
Bunny, my baby, 😭😭😭 “do you think you can show me how to feel beautiful?” You’re fucken lying Ophelia. ❤️🩹
I need book 2 ASAP.
I was LOCKED IN. The world building had me so invested. Vampires, witches, corrupt leaders, WERWOLVES holy hell I was SAT.
Each character were so intriguing and I fell in love with all of them, well maybe not all of them
👀 A. cough cough
I’m so happy I read Until Dawn prior, because I SQUEALED when Ciro,Nadiya Malcom , and Grayce made an appearance.
Marz & Everett, My heart was tugging on Marz’s past unveiling, and Everett being there, A MAN.
Connie & Benny 🔥 Yeah can’t wait for more of them.
“I don’t know why, but the more scared of her I am. The more I want her.” YESSSSS.
Bunny, my baby, 😭😭😭 “do you think you can show me how to feel beautiful?” You’re fucken lying Ophelia. ❤️🩹
I need book 2 ASAP.
September 14, 2026
Paranormal Perfection
UGH! I was immediately convinced to read this because of the artwork and I’M SO GLAD I DID! This is an epic paranormal dystopian novel. Witches, vampires, humans, and werewolves, oh my!!
Expect emotional devastation, dark secrets, and beautifully tragic relationships. This story follows Marz, a badass vampire who is desperately trying to learn from her past and help bloodlings (vampires who were just turned) find their way.
You WILL fall for Marz and appreciate her authenticity. And ugh EVERETT 🥵🥵🥵. There are SO many layers in this story. I can’t wait for more readers to experience it!
UGH! I was immediately convinced to read this because of the artwork and I’M SO GLAD I DID! This is an epic paranormal dystopian novel. Witches, vampires, humans, and werewolves, oh my!!
Expect emotional devastation, dark secrets, and beautifully tragic relationships. This story follows Marz, a badass vampire who is desperately trying to learn from her past and help bloodlings (vampires who were just turned) find their way.
You WILL fall for Marz and appreciate her authenticity. And ugh EVERETT 🥵🥵🥵. There are SO many layers in this story. I can’t wait for more readers to experience it!
September 9, 2026
Coming to you live from finishing this book 5 minutes ago. How do I know it was 5 minutes? Because that’s how long I stopped and stared at the wall after my brain exploded and my soul was SHOOK! Do you love Underworld, or X-men, or Twilight (trust me there’s reasons), Divergent, or The Originals? Pick this up right now!!
October 6, 2026
ARC Read:
Review to come!
Review to come!
Review of advance copy received from Author
08/25/2026-08/28/2026
Thank you so much Ophelia Reign for taking a chance on me with a gifted digital proof of “Before We Burn” 🔥
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️♾️
I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE BEFORE WE BURN 🔥
Ophelia is an insanely talented author who literally moved words like dance moves and to give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ would NOT be enough!
Anywhooooo BWB comes out September 9th (yes Wednesday!) and you should preorder it asap 🥹🖤
Thank you so much Ophelia Reign for taking a chance on me with a gifted digital proof of “Before We Burn” 🔥
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️♾️
I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE BEFORE WE BURN 🔥
Ophelia is an insanely talented author who literally moved words like dance moves and to give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ would NOT be enough!
Anywhooooo BWB comes out September 9th (yes Wednesday!) and you should preorder it asap 🥹🖤
September 25, 2026
Before We Burn has an ambitious premise with a lot packed into its supernatural world, but unfortunately the execution never came together for me. There are vampires, witches, complicated family connections, betrayals, romance, and plenty of danger, yet I struggled to feel the urgency the story seemed to be reaching for. Many of the reveals felt predictable, while the narration sometimes over-explained obvious details and then stayed frustratingly vague in places where I actually wanted more. The dialogue and internal monologue also frequently pulled me out of the story.
The tone bounced around quite a bit, from casual slang and romance to darker supernatural moments, spice, and eventually some very creepy nursery-rhyme energy. Some of those pieces could have been really interesting, but together they never quite found a rhythm for me. And I cannot leave without mentioning the curly-hair incident. If a woman puts on a shower cap specifically to protect her straightened hair from reverting, washing that hair in the very next scene is an act of literary violence I was not prepared to witness. 😂 There are some interesting ideas underneath everything happening here, but overall this one just didn’t land for me.
The tone bounced around quite a bit, from casual slang and romance to darker supernatural moments, spice, and eventually some very creepy nursery-rhyme energy. Some of those pieces could have been really interesting, but together they never quite found a rhythm for me. And I cannot leave without mentioning the curly-hair incident. If a woman puts on a shower cap specifically to protect her straightened hair from reverting, washing that hair in the very next scene is an act of literary violence I was not prepared to witness. 😂 There are some interesting ideas underneath everything happening here, but overall this one just didn’t land for me.
July 29, 2026
I had previously read Until Dawn by this author and loved it so signed up for an ARC of BWB and I’m so pleased I got to read this!!
This is a great vampire story!!
What’s involved?
🩸paranormal dystopian
🩸vampires, humans, witches….
🩸powerful FMC
🩸strong relationships between women
🩸interesting side characters
🩸oppressive government/political system
🩸set in the future/post-war
🩸ongoing mystery
⛔️‼️SPOILERS AHEAD‼️⛔️
Marz is such a great FMC. She’s flawed and has a history as an assassin. But she left that life behind to help other newly turned vampires. I really liked the development of her relationship with the human, Everett. He really falls hard and fast for Marz.
Although, the thing that really stands out in this book is the relationship between the women! Marz, Connie and Bunny are on the same page from the start despite Marz and Connie not knowing Bunny for long. They are all incredible in their own way and the women in this story are the ones doing all the work tbh. Even side characters!
I was hoping for more of Bunny’s back story. I would have also loved to know more about her abilities as they were fascinating! But still absolutely loved her character. It just left me wanting more in a good way.
Also, will we ever find Alexander the PoS!
The last part of the book gives you answers but also leaves lots of questions going into the rest of the series! The ending was so sad. 😭
Cannot wait to read more! This series will now be a trilogy!
4.25*
This is a great vampire story!!
What’s involved?
🩸paranormal dystopian
🩸vampires, humans, witches….
🩸powerful FMC
🩸strong relationships between women
🩸interesting side characters
🩸oppressive government/political system
🩸set in the future/post-war
🩸ongoing mystery
⛔️‼️SPOILERS AHEAD‼️⛔️
Marz is such a great FMC. She’s flawed and has a history as an assassin. But she left that life behind to help other newly turned vampires. I really liked the development of her relationship with the human, Everett. He really falls hard and fast for Marz.
Although, the thing that really stands out in this book is the relationship between the women! Marz, Connie and Bunny are on the same page from the start despite Marz and Connie not knowing Bunny for long. They are all incredible in their own way and the women in this story are the ones doing all the work tbh. Even side characters!
I was hoping for more of Bunny’s back story. I would have also loved to know more about her abilities as they were fascinating! But still absolutely loved her character. It just left me wanting more in a good way.
Also, will we ever find Alexander the PoS!
The last part of the book gives you answers but also leaves lots of questions going into the rest of the series! The ending was so sad. 😭
Cannot wait to read more! This series will now be a trilogy!
4.25*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really wanted to love this story because I just love these kinds of stories, and yet, I really struggled to invest in this one. The pacing was really odd to me, moved really fast in some places and really slow in others. I didn't really feel connected to the characters. The premise is good, and I enjoyed what was there; I just didn't really feel the connection that I want when I dive into a book. I can see why everyone rates it so highly though.
Thanks to the author for the advance copy.
Thanks to the author for the advance copy.
June 14, 2026
3.75 🌟
I was frothing at the mouth to read this based on artwork & vibes alone for MONTHS, and it was such a fun read.
We've got witches, vampires and magic in a future dystopian post war world setting. There's a unique magic system in place regarding how vampires develop their powers and a lot of political intrigue in the world building that I absolutely cannot wait to see develop out in the secondary installment. The last two percent of the book had me bawling my eyes out, please come console me if/when you all read this. I'm not okay 😭
I'm obsessed with how of putting Bunny is made to be when witnessing the use of her powers- she very quickly became my favorite character. I'm also just here to say... Marzana, the woman that you are 🫰🏻💅🏻
Enjoy a bunch of my favorite quotes to sum up what really drew me in 🫶🏻
• • •
"I never wanted to hurt anyone. I never wanted to be what they made me to be. They just never gave me a chance."
"Like the earth is screaming for the slate to be wiped clean, but humans are fighting Mother Nature for control. I can't think about it too long, it I will stand in this spot for days, unable to stop." Realest shit I've ever read tbh- something like this comes out of my mouth once a week bare minimum iykyk.
"But you are so very naive to think you aren't manipulated every day from the small pieces of propaganda you are fed." "When you control the narrative, you control the mindsets of the people who are engaged with whatever you're putting out." PERIOD ! The commentary that links to today's issues is fantastic. Never forget that reading is political.
"I'd rather burn for eternity in whatever hell awaits me than witness the slaughter of more of my friends."
"Monsters need to stick together."
"Hope is being this sad but still wanting to be better." Why am I sobbing? 😭 Too relatable.
"I'll be a monster one more time, but this time for my own reasons."
I was frothing at the mouth to read this based on artwork & vibes alone for MONTHS, and it was such a fun read.
We've got witches, vampires and magic in a future dystopian post war world setting. There's a unique magic system in place regarding how vampires develop their powers and a lot of political intrigue in the world building that I absolutely cannot wait to see develop out in the secondary installment. The last two percent of the book had me bawling my eyes out, please come console me if/when you all read this. I'm not okay 😭
I'm obsessed with how of putting Bunny is made to be when witnessing the use of her powers- she very quickly became my favorite character. I'm also just here to say... Marzana, the woman that you are 🫰🏻💅🏻
Enjoy a bunch of my favorite quotes to sum up what really drew me in 🫶🏻
• • •
"I never wanted to hurt anyone. I never wanted to be what they made me to be. They just never gave me a chance."
"Like the earth is screaming for the slate to be wiped clean, but humans are fighting Mother Nature for control. I can't think about it too long, it I will stand in this spot for days, unable to stop." Realest shit I've ever read tbh- something like this comes out of my mouth once a week bare minimum iykyk.
"But you are so very naive to think you aren't manipulated every day from the small pieces of propaganda you are fed." "When you control the narrative, you control the mindsets of the people who are engaged with whatever you're putting out." PERIOD ! The commentary that links to today's issues is fantastic. Never forget that reading is political.
"I'd rather burn for eternity in whatever hell awaits me than witness the slaughter of more of my friends."
"Monsters need to stick together."
"Hope is being this sad but still wanting to be better." Why am I sobbing? 😭 Too relatable.
"I'll be a monster one more time, but this time for my own reasons."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
⭐⭐⭐✨ | ARC Review
Overall, Before We Burn was an enjoyable paranormal mystery set in a dystopian world. The plot intrigued me enough that I'll definitely be picking up book two to see where the story goes.
I became invested in the characters and was rooting for them every step of the way. Marz is a fierce FMC, and I loved her "don't mess with me" vibe. It was especially strong at the beginning of the book, although I would have loved to see that maintained throughout. Everett completely stole my heart, I count help feel for him when his entire world is turned upside down, leaving him questioning everything he thought he knew about his beliefs and morals. Ophelia did a great twist at the end, I was genuinely shook for a heartbeat! Ophelia has also created a fantastic found family, which is one of my all-time favourite tropes.
The only thing that held this back from being a higher rating for me was the world-building. There were several concepts introduced, such as soul ties, that weren't fully explained. I wanted to understand what they are, why they're important, and what the consequences are if someone doesn't have one. Another paranormal species is also introduced quite late in the story, and I think mentioning them earlier would have helped establish the world's history and made the setting feel more complete.
If you're looking for a dystopian paranormal mystery with found family, intriguing twists, and characters you'll want to root for, this one is worth adding to your TBR.
Overall, Before We Burn was an enjoyable paranormal mystery set in a dystopian world. The plot intrigued me enough that I'll definitely be picking up book two to see where the story goes.
I became invested in the characters and was rooting for them every step of the way. Marz is a fierce FMC, and I loved her "don't mess with me" vibe. It was especially strong at the beginning of the book, although I would have loved to see that maintained throughout. Everett completely stole my heart, I count help feel for him when his entire world is turned upside down, leaving him questioning everything he thought he knew about his beliefs and morals. Ophelia did a great twist at the end, I was genuinely shook for a heartbeat! Ophelia has also created a fantastic found family, which is one of my all-time favourite tropes.
The only thing that held this back from being a higher rating for me was the world-building. There were several concepts introduced, such as soul ties, that weren't fully explained. I wanted to understand what they are, why they're important, and what the consequences are if someone doesn't have one. Another paranormal species is also introduced quite late in the story, and I think mentioning them earlier would have helped establish the world's history and made the setting feel more complete.
If you're looking for a dystopian paranormal mystery with found family, intriguing twists, and characters you'll want to root for, this one is worth adding to your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
there was a lot to this story that i really truly enjoyed. i really like marz a lot as the fmc. i loved her thought processes, her backstory, how she interacted with other characters. she was truly incredible and probably my favorite part of the entire thing.
i loved the concept of the plot and thought it was really unique and an interesting story in the paranormal world. i got…really confused on quite a bit, though. it felt like things were said or told to us that i was expected to just know or recognize without further explanation. like what exactly is a soul tie? why did onyx sacrifice his pack and what would his son have done to him? how/why do the council have human kin?
i dont need to be explicitly told every little detail, but it felt like i was missing information that wasnt fleshed out.
i also wasn’t a super big fan of the romance, unfortunately. it moved a little quickly from enemies to being very wrapped up in each other and caring when they really hadn’t had much time to be feeling that strongly.
i think this story really shines with the characters individually. particularly with bunny and constantine. i loved every bit of time these two had on the pages and couldn’t wait for more.
even though this didn’t quite land for me, im def interested in what happens next in the series !!
i loved the concept of the plot and thought it was really unique and an interesting story in the paranormal world. i got…really confused on quite a bit, though. it felt like things were said or told to us that i was expected to just know or recognize without further explanation. like what exactly is a soul tie? why did onyx sacrifice his pack and what would his son have done to him? how/why do the council have human kin?
i dont need to be explicitly told every little detail, but it felt like i was missing information that wasnt fleshed out.
i also wasn’t a super big fan of the romance, unfortunately. it moved a little quickly from enemies to being very wrapped up in each other and caring when they really hadn’t had much time to be feeling that strongly.
i think this story really shines with the characters individually. particularly with bunny and constantine. i loved every bit of time these two had on the pages and couldn’t wait for more.
even though this didn’t quite land for me, im def interested in what happens next in the series !!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶️/5
TW - blood consumption, blood, graphic violence, gore, familial death, theft, military trauma, dismemberment, PTSD, corruption (including Government), propaganda, torture, kidnapping, forced prostitution / sexual assault (past, loosely recounted), murder of children (mentioned), hanging (on page, graphic), alcohol consumption, death ideation, suicide ideation, harassment, knife violence, near death experiences, genocide (discussed), xenophobia, experimenting on paranormals, captivity, gun violence, grief, murder, death, parental abandonment (past, mentioned), mental health struggles, self loathing, poverty, nightmares, smoking (implied), unsafe sex, incarceration (past, sc, mentioned)
CW - DubCon, exhibitionism (scs), hand necklace
Tropes - dystopian, paranormal, found family, hurt x comfort, opposites attract, political intrigue, feminine rage
Representation - Black MCs, south East Asian sc, queer rep
sc(s) = side character(s)
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year!! I was locked in by the character art and the vibes but I stayed for the story.
Ophelia gives us a dystopian world set in our future with humans and paranormals. At first, it seems like it is human vs paranormal but we find that it is much more complicated.
The dystopian genre as a whole always explores one or some characters who change their opinion based on the presentation of new information. Idk if this is a requirement for the genre but I think it’s very important to read about. In this book, we see this on a macro scale as characters have to face that what they thought of their government, their protector, is not correct and they are forced into seeing a different perspective. People should probably learn from that…
Marz (FMC) is so badass!! I found her so admirable, the way she keeps going despite it all and her vulnerability is heartbreaking and often relatable to read. The found family was really sweet to read and you can’t help but feel like Marz is deserving of it all despite what she thinks of herself.
There are a lot of interesting characters in this story and i’m interested to see how they fare in the subsequent books. I’m eager to see how this all ends up playing out 🤞🏾
Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪
🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List / The Naughtier List
TW/CW not to be repurposed by authors / publishers for website / book / content use without permission
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶️/5
TW - blood consumption, blood, graphic violence, gore, familial death, theft, military trauma, dismemberment, PTSD, corruption (including Government), propaganda, torture, kidnapping, forced prostitution / sexual assault (past, loosely recounted), murder of children (mentioned), hanging (on page, graphic), alcohol consumption, death ideation, suicide ideation, harassment, knife violence, near death experiences, genocide (discussed), xenophobia, experimenting on paranormals, captivity, gun violence, grief, murder, death, parental abandonment (past, mentioned), mental health struggles, self loathing, poverty, nightmares, smoking (implied), unsafe sex, incarceration (past, sc, mentioned)
CW - DubCon, exhibitionism (scs), hand necklace
Tropes - dystopian, paranormal, found family, hurt x comfort, opposites attract, political intrigue, feminine rage
Representation - Black MCs, south East Asian sc, queer rep
sc(s) = side character(s)
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year!! I was locked in by the character art and the vibes but I stayed for the story.
Ophelia gives us a dystopian world set in our future with humans and paranormals. At first, it seems like it is human vs paranormal but we find that it is much more complicated.
The dystopian genre as a whole always explores one or some characters who change their opinion based on the presentation of new information. Idk if this is a requirement for the genre but I think it’s very important to read about. In this book, we see this on a macro scale as characters have to face that what they thought of their government, their protector, is not correct and they are forced into seeing a different perspective. People should probably learn from that…
Marz (FMC) is so badass!! I found her so admirable, the way she keeps going despite it all and her vulnerability is heartbreaking and often relatable to read. The found family was really sweet to read and you can’t help but feel like Marz is deserving of it all despite what she thinks of herself.
There are a lot of interesting characters in this story and i’m interested to see how they fare in the subsequent books. I’m eager to see how this all ends up playing out 🤞🏾
Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪
🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List / The Naughtier List
TW/CW not to be repurposed by authors / publishers for website / book / content use without permission
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