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Of Shadows and Blood
In a realm of Vampyrs, bloodlust takes Liv to another reality. From the bleak and dystopian, to the pale and their thirst must be quenched...
Liv has woken up from a coma. Except she isn't anywhere she recognises.
The last thing she remembers is the fall she had from a tree in her home village; a barren, unforgiving land where thirst is endless and labor is unyielding. Struggling with the conflicting feelings she harbors for her absent, enigmatic neighbor, Sawyer, she searches for meaning in a world that seems to offer none.
Now with fractured memories and a forgotten past, Liv awakens in a forgotten kingdom, Lux, inhabited by Vampyr, magical sorceresses, and all of whom believe she is the next queen destined to rule on a continent of tense rival kingdoms.
Torn between the fragmented pieces of her identity and the unsettling allure of their king, she must navigate a realm of ancient politics, shadowed love, and dangerous bargains. As she battles to reclaim her lost memories and redefine her purpose, Liv faces an impossible trust the cold Vampyr King to help break her curse or flee.
The yearn-filled, blood-thirsty romantasy debut that will leave you reeling, for fans of Callie Hart and Sarah J Maas.
Readers are enchanted by the Vampyr
'An addictive story that hooked me with its mix of Vampyrs, mystery, romance, and royal intrigue.' Reader Review
'Effortlessly blends magic, danger, and intrigue into a story that's hard to put down...I was pulled into a richly imagined world where every secret uncovered only deepened the mystery.' Reader Review
'Excellent story, Great characters and keeps you guessing right to the end.' Reader Review
'There was something about this story that pulled me in quickly...That ending was absolutely brutal, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where Liv and Cedric’s journey takes them in book two.' Reader Review
Liv has woken up from a coma. Except she isn't anywhere she recognises.
The last thing she remembers is the fall she had from a tree in her home village; a barren, unforgiving land where thirst is endless and labor is unyielding. Struggling with the conflicting feelings she harbors for her absent, enigmatic neighbor, Sawyer, she searches for meaning in a world that seems to offer none.
Now with fractured memories and a forgotten past, Liv awakens in a forgotten kingdom, Lux, inhabited by Vampyr, magical sorceresses, and all of whom believe she is the next queen destined to rule on a continent of tense rival kingdoms.
Torn between the fragmented pieces of her identity and the unsettling allure of their king, she must navigate a realm of ancient politics, shadowed love, and dangerous bargains. As she battles to reclaim her lost memories and redefine her purpose, Liv faces an impossible trust the cold Vampyr King to help break her curse or flee.
The yearn-filled, blood-thirsty romantasy debut that will leave you reeling, for fans of Callie Hart and Sarah J Maas.
Readers are enchanted by the Vampyr
'An addictive story that hooked me with its mix of Vampyrs, mystery, romance, and royal intrigue.' Reader Review
'Effortlessly blends magic, danger, and intrigue into a story that's hard to put down...I was pulled into a richly imagined world where every secret uncovered only deepened the mystery.' Reader Review
'Excellent story, Great characters and keeps you guessing right to the end.' Reader Review
'There was something about this story that pulled me in quickly...That ending was absolutely brutal, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where Liv and Cedric’s journey takes them in book two.' Reader Review
416 pages, Paperback
Published August 4, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 18, 2026
2.5 stars
Headlines:
Amnesia confusion
Brotherly triangles
Unlikely vampires
I went into this one with an open mind. The first chapter started strong with the FMC (of two names) waking from a two year coma. She was convinced she was someone other than who she was thought to be and connected to the brother of her betrothed. From there, we got chapters of pre-coma and present. It was all a bit confusing.
The vampire element of this story was strange in that it was weak lore. I don't think that was aided by the FMC not being on board with her own reality.
When the veil was lifted on some of the plot directions, I found the explanations a little disappointing. I struggled to get on board with the plot in general, I didn't feel connected to any of the characters and I definitely wasn't on board with the triangle. I'm not anti-love triangles but they have to be purposeful and well written for me to gel with this trope; I didn't feel this one.
The plot faded as the book progressed and overall, I just struggled to enjoy this at all. Keeping this short, I won't be reading on.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.
Headlines:
Amnesia confusion
Brotherly triangles
Unlikely vampires
I went into this one with an open mind. The first chapter started strong with the FMC (of two names) waking from a two year coma. She was convinced she was someone other than who she was thought to be and connected to the brother of her betrothed. From there, we got chapters of pre-coma and present. It was all a bit confusing.
The vampire element of this story was strange in that it was weak lore. I don't think that was aided by the FMC not being on board with her own reality.
When the veil was lifted on some of the plot directions, I found the explanations a little disappointing. I struggled to get on board with the plot in general, I didn't feel connected to any of the characters and I definitely wasn't on board with the triangle. I'm not anti-love triangles but they have to be purposeful and well written for me to gel with this trope; I didn't feel this one.
The plot faded as the book progressed and overall, I just struggled to enjoy this at all. Keeping this short, I won't be reading on.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.
June 12, 2026
OH MY GOD!!!!
I mean, first of all, when I came on here to write my review, I was so shocked to see that people weren’t raving about this book because I am on an absolute high right now. This book was AMAZING!!! I don’t read a lot of romantasy. It’s a once-in-a-blue-moon type of thing, but I am so glad I read this.
Imagine this: you’re living a normal life in the village, waking up every day and repeating the same old routine, milking the cows, going to the market, laughing whilst making dinner with your mom, falling for a village boy… the perfect routine right? maybe. It seems perfectly until you wake up in an unfamiliar bed, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and a vampire who calls you his mate. You don’t remember him, nor who you are, but you do remember one face… the village boy you fell for. The same village boy they keep calling the prince, as in THE BROTHER OF THE KING. You just can’t wrap your head around any of it. They tell you that you’re going to be the Queen of the Lux, but you think this is all one horrid joke. But what happens when it doesn’t sound like a joke anymore?
Oh, I absolutely devoured this. Every romantasy that I have read (the catalogue is not that huge) has either been werewolves or vampires, so when I saw that vampires were included, I said, “Say less and pass me a margarita because I’m about to eat this up.”
And did I eat.
The entire storyline was AMAZING. I loved seeing Liv go through the struggles of trying to figure out what happened to her and, obviously, trying to pick out the bad guy from the crowd myself. The entire mystery aspect kept me guessing, and it was all done so well because I did not get it right in the end, but it definitely left my jaw hanging.
The tension between her and Cedric was also absolutely delicious. I know people find the push and pull annoying, but in this context, I think it worked wonders. I mean, she’s lost her memories whilst he’s been waiting for the LOVE OF HIS LIFE to wake up for the past two years, so he is literally down bad, yearning. He fought his anger and his fear of losing her again and tried to accommodate her to the best of his abilities, giving her freedom where he could. My heart broke for him because I could tell how much he loved her.
That’s why, at some points, I really wanted to punch Liv because she had this man begging for her on his knees, but she was still acting up! Like, Cedric, if you did that for me, trust me, we’d spend the rest of eternity together.
It was all written so well, and I don’t say that lightly because a lot of romantasy books are hard to get into and can sometimes feel long-winded, but I didn’t think that was the case with this book at all.
And oh my God, you guys don’t even understand the sheer panic I was feeling when the story finally got so juicy and I was down to the last two pages. It’s literally midnight right now, and I’m riled up and awake because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!!
The cliffhanger was absolutely criminal.
All I know is that I need Book 2 immediately, Cedric and Liv are endgame, and I am officially in my vampire era…
Thank you, Hera Books, for sending me a physical proof copy x
I mean, first of all, when I came on here to write my review, I was so shocked to see that people weren’t raving about this book because I am on an absolute high right now. This book was AMAZING!!! I don’t read a lot of romantasy. It’s a once-in-a-blue-moon type of thing, but I am so glad I read this.
Imagine this: you’re living a normal life in the village, waking up every day and repeating the same old routine, milking the cows, going to the market, laughing whilst making dinner with your mom, falling for a village boy… the perfect routine right? maybe. It seems perfectly until you wake up in an unfamiliar bed, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and a vampire who calls you his mate. You don’t remember him, nor who you are, but you do remember one face… the village boy you fell for. The same village boy they keep calling the prince, as in THE BROTHER OF THE KING. You just can’t wrap your head around any of it. They tell you that you’re going to be the Queen of the Lux, but you think this is all one horrid joke. But what happens when it doesn’t sound like a joke anymore?
Oh, I absolutely devoured this. Every romantasy that I have read (the catalogue is not that huge) has either been werewolves or vampires, so when I saw that vampires were included, I said, “Say less and pass me a margarita because I’m about to eat this up.”
And did I eat.
The entire storyline was AMAZING. I loved seeing Liv go through the struggles of trying to figure out what happened to her and, obviously, trying to pick out the bad guy from the crowd myself. The entire mystery aspect kept me guessing, and it was all done so well because I did not get it right in the end, but it definitely left my jaw hanging.
The tension between her and Cedric was also absolutely delicious. I know people find the push and pull annoying, but in this context, I think it worked wonders. I mean, she’s lost her memories whilst he’s been waiting for the LOVE OF HIS LIFE to wake up for the past two years, so he is literally down bad, yearning. He fought his anger and his fear of losing her again and tried to accommodate her to the best of his abilities, giving her freedom where he could. My heart broke for him because I could tell how much he loved her.
That’s why, at some points, I really wanted to punch Liv because she had this man begging for her on his knees, but she was still acting up! Like, Cedric, if you did that for me, trust me, we’d spend the rest of eternity together.
It was all written so well, and I don’t say that lightly because a lot of romantasy books are hard to get into and can sometimes feel long-winded, but I didn’t think that was the case with this book at all.
And oh my God, you guys don’t even understand the sheer panic I was feeling when the story finally got so juicy and I was down to the last two pages. It’s literally midnight right now, and I’m riled up and awake because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!!
The cliffhanger was absolutely criminal.
All I know is that I need Book 2 immediately, Cedric and Liv are endgame, and I am officially in my vampire era…
Thank you, Hera Books, for sending me a physical proof copy x
May 29, 2026
2 stars ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley, Ivy Rose, and Hera books for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
I don’t like leaving negative reviews so I’ll just say that this book wasn’t for me. There are a hundred other romantasy books like this one, so I’m sure someone will like this.
Thank you NetGalley, Ivy Rose, and Hera books for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
I don’t like leaving negative reviews so I’ll just say that this book wasn’t for me. There are a hundred other romantasy books like this one, so I’m sure someone will like this.
August 6, 2026
DNF at 53% - I really tried with this book, and kept pushing through, but the inconsistencies just kept taking me out of the story. Liv keeps doing a 180 on her feelings for Cedric every few pages without reason. We are also being given clues to Sawyer, and as soon as Liv hears something negative about him, she’s suddenly heart eyes over Cedric again. I also found that there are pieces missing in some chapters. For instance, a chapter started and training was mentioned and then Liv talks about her power as if we have context for what happened before that other character mentioned it. And how one chapter opened as there was a whole chapter or section we missed out on. I do feel like this could be a good book, but the character Liv needed to be more consistent and as we’re in her pov. Because of this, I just can’t get invested in the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
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August 1, 2026I thought the first 50 pages of this book were really strong, I was engaged I was curious and I felt invested. However, it feels like a first draft. The potential for this book is really good, it has some great elements and some fantastic characters but neither of them are explored well. I felt like Cedric was supposed to be who we were rooting for but I didn’t really feel much draw to him as a reader - he felt very shallow as a character (not actually shallow but just, not explored or fleshed out properly).
I feel like this book needs a few more rounds of edits. There were inconsistencies with characters and timelines that should have been picked up.
Not a terrible read but one I didn’t really want to finish.
I feel like this book needs a few more rounds of edits. There were inconsistencies with characters and timelines that should have been picked up.
Not a terrible read but one I didn’t really want to finish.
August 31, 2026
I'm disappointed as I think the overall plot has potential, but this book needs a few more rounds of edits imo. Repetitive words, telling not showing, there are tonnes of examples from early on in the text.
I don't think the author is bad, I just feel if a good editor for their hands on this, they could really revamp it and tighten it up.
Unfortunately, there wasn't enough compelling action for me to overlook the needed edits.
I don't think the author is bad, I just feel if a good editor for their hands on this, they could really revamp it and tighten it up.
Unfortunately, there wasn't enough compelling action for me to overlook the needed edits.
September 17, 2026
Another good book. I enjoyed it so much. I would recommend Of shadows and blood.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I open my eyes and immediately close them back shut at the blinding light that radiates in front me.
"Sasha? Sasha?!?"
Shouting involving my name continues as I groan while slowly opening up my eyes to adjust to the lighting once again. I turn my head to the left and see a man sitting next to me, his face etched in what looks like pain, but also relief. Dark black hair, bright green eyes, deeply creased black t-shirt, and tattoos that spread from his neck, down to his forearms, and down to his hands…..hands which are currently holding on my left hand.
I look back up and panic shoots throughout my body at the fact that I have no idea who he is nor why he is this close to me. In fact, I have no idea why this stranger is even holding my hand. My face begins to pale as I begin realize that I have no idea where I am either.
"Sasha, can you hear me?!?"
I hastily pull my hand away from his and push myself up in bed. - pushing as far into the headboard of the current bed I am in to try and put space between us. Unfortunately, pushing myself up was definitely a huge mistake as my head currently feels like it weighs a hundred pounds and a strong throbbing sensation is beginning to start which was not there just a few seconds ago. I groan once more while rubbing a few circles at both my temples to try and ease at least some of the pain and pressure. This has got to be either the worst nap I've ever had in my life or the worst night of sleep I've ever had - I don't even think I've EVER felt this terrible before.
I look back over to the strange man and find that he seems to have gotten up from the chair he was in before and is now standing wide eyed with a woman in a white lab coat right beside him.
"Wha….What t-time is it?" I ask in a deep raspy voice.
"It's currently 9:52 AM.", the woman in the white coat responds, "Do you know who you are?"
"Yes", I scoff while taking in my surroundings. "Do you know who YOU are?"
The strange man from before smirks and lets out a light chuckle.
"There she is."
The woman in the white coat rolls her eyes as she asks, "And do you know where you are?"
I look around me and frown, as I have no freaking clue where I am nor who either of these people are. I begin taking a look further, stalling at her question, to see if there are any areas in which I can escape to when the opportunity arises. While I have no idea why I am here nor how I got here, I do know that I should NOT be here in a room that is unfamiliar to me and surrounded by people that I have no recollection of.
A few minutes pass before the woman in the white coat clears her throat and asks, "Do you know who we are?"
I turn back to them, checking off that there are two exits that I'm seeing so far….either through the window or to the door in the right corner of the room which looks like a bathroom and might have a window there as well.
"Not ringing any bells, actually….I'm assuming you are my "doctor" and you…" I point to the man in black, "…well, it seems the only thing I know about you is that you don't know a single thing about boundaries since you had your hands all over me just a few seconds ago."
The woman in white looks at the man in black with concern. He doesn't pay her any attention as he narrows his eyes at me while crossing his arms.
"You have no idea who I am?" he questions, "No idea who you are to me?"
"Sorry buddy…have no idea….in fact, if you could just point me in the nearest direction of a phone, I'd like to make a call to my husband who is probably worried about me." I give a smile as best as can knowing full well I don't have a husband but my best friend, Zane, is the best I got and hopefully he can play along.
"It's a good thing he's already here," the man answers while moving toward the bed, "What is it that you'd like to tell me, wife?"
This is the first time within my ARC Reviews where I'm contemplating on what rating to provide a book. I'm not sure if it's the case that this was not the book for me from a "mood reader perspective" or if I’m entering a period of "reading slump", but I found myself stuck in a hard place of deciding where to place this book from an honest view without being "too harsh" just because of the above possible situations that might have occurred and/or be occurring right now.
Let me explain….
When I first received this ARC from NetGalley and Canelo, I was absolutely ESTATIC to dive in. The concept of a new Vampire Romance was right up my alley as something I wanted to read and have found myself in the mood to read more Paranormal and Monster Romances as of late; which is where I categorize Vampire Romances. I had also just finished an Academia Romance before this, so switching gears to this one would be a nice change to something different. Unfortunately, as I starting reading through, the excitement ended up turning into uncertainty. This was the first time that I found myself leaving the book after every few chapters uninterested, and at times completely frustrated.
Before I dive in more about the reason why, let me give an overview of what this book is about…
We have our FMC Liv, also known as Elivienne, who has just woken up and found herself unsure of where she is and who is currently surrounding her. While there are several people happy and excited at the fact that she seems to have just woken up from a coma, she has absolutely no memories of who each of these people are, nor which bed she is currently waking up within. Included within those people surrounding her is our MMC, Celdric, who Liv has no recollection of and has found herself now "scared of" after learning that he, himself, is a Vampire. Celdric, more than willing to understand she has just woken up to a world in which she no longer recognizes, is more than willing to continue being patient in the hope that her memories will come back to her. Unfortunately for Liv, she seems to still be living in the past from a life that she no longer lives, for a boy she believes she still loves, and has to begin piecing back information little by little to help navigate the new world she is in, while also mourning the one that she still thought she had.
While understanding the overview of what to expect, your tropes within this storyline include….
🧛♀️Vampires x Humans
🧛♀️Amnesia x Memory Loss
🧛♀️Love Triangle
🧛♀️Mystery x Betrayals
🧛♀️Slow Burn Reconnection
Keeping both the premise and tropes in mind, this brings you to when you first start the book, once again, with our FMC Liv waking up with no recollection of where she is or why she is there. This concept is very interesting at this point and I'm intrigued to follow through in seeing why she doesn't recognize anyone and how she got to where she is. I enjoyed reading those several chapters seeing her reaction and trying to "put the puzzle pieces together". But after those chapters, I was finding myself losing interest. In fact, the longer I went on, even 50% way through, I felt like I was still right at the beginning on page one; as if I was on an infinite time loop where the exact same conversations, exact same behavior outbursts, exact same arguments, and exact same confusion was still happening.
I found myself starting to ask…
"When is the plot going to start happening here?
"Why is it that we are continuing to do this?"
"Where's the progression or growth with this storyline?"
And my favorite one that I was using often….
"For the love of god, woman, what is wrong with you?!?"
While reading through, I also felt like I just couldn't connect with any of the characters within the book. Many of the characters felt flat, unlikeable, and unmemorable most of the time. And oh my gosh, Liv was so frustrating to me at always being so defensive, crying to herself about her situation constantly and wanting to "start fights/arguments" that I sometimes I just felt like we didn't need her and should have just found a new FMC. Placing the trope of memory loss as the "cherry on top" of it all, I was burnt out and uninterested finishing through this book.
As I mentioned before, it could be possible that I'm being a little too critical here and we could chop this all up to into either…
( A ) Sasha found herself in a reading slump and this was not the read for her current mood like she thought it would be
( B ) Sasha has just found out that the "Memory Loss Trope" is not for her and she should probably stay away from any book which have this trope as the main premise going forward
So please take what I say here as just an opinion and not something that you may feel when you read this book. In fact, as you read through the reviews, you will find there are some people who absolutely LOVED this. So be sure to just take a look at a few reviews first to make sure it's the right fit for you as what I say is just what my experience was when reading and everyone has their own preferences and likes when it comes to book choices.
Overall, while I may have struggled through this one, I do still recommend to take a look at other reviews which gave this 4-5 stars before it comes out on AUGUST 06 2026. This could have all boiled down to the trope of "memory loss" just not being for me and it could be something you absolutely thrive with!
"Sasha? Sasha?!?"
Shouting involving my name continues as I groan while slowly opening up my eyes to adjust to the lighting once again. I turn my head to the left and see a man sitting next to me, his face etched in what looks like pain, but also relief. Dark black hair, bright green eyes, deeply creased black t-shirt, and tattoos that spread from his neck, down to his forearms, and down to his hands…..hands which are currently holding on my left hand.
I look back up and panic shoots throughout my body at the fact that I have no idea who he is nor why he is this close to me. In fact, I have no idea why this stranger is even holding my hand. My face begins to pale as I begin realize that I have no idea where I am either.
"Sasha, can you hear me?!?"
I hastily pull my hand away from his and push myself up in bed. - pushing as far into the headboard of the current bed I am in to try and put space between us. Unfortunately, pushing myself up was definitely a huge mistake as my head currently feels like it weighs a hundred pounds and a strong throbbing sensation is beginning to start which was not there just a few seconds ago. I groan once more while rubbing a few circles at both my temples to try and ease at least some of the pain and pressure. This has got to be either the worst nap I've ever had in my life or the worst night of sleep I've ever had - I don't even think I've EVER felt this terrible before.
I look back over to the strange man and find that he seems to have gotten up from the chair he was in before and is now standing wide eyed with a woman in a white lab coat right beside him.
"Wha….What t-time is it?" I ask in a deep raspy voice.
"It's currently 9:52 AM.", the woman in the white coat responds, "Do you know who you are?"
"Yes", I scoff while taking in my surroundings. "Do you know who YOU are?"
The strange man from before smirks and lets out a light chuckle.
"There she is."
The woman in the white coat rolls her eyes as she asks, "And do you know where you are?"
I look around me and frown, as I have no freaking clue where I am nor who either of these people are. I begin taking a look further, stalling at her question, to see if there are any areas in which I can escape to when the opportunity arises. While I have no idea why I am here nor how I got here, I do know that I should NOT be here in a room that is unfamiliar to me and surrounded by people that I have no recollection of.
A few minutes pass before the woman in the white coat clears her throat and asks, "Do you know who we are?"
I turn back to them, checking off that there are two exits that I'm seeing so far….either through the window or to the door in the right corner of the room which looks like a bathroom and might have a window there as well.
"Not ringing any bells, actually….I'm assuming you are my "doctor" and you…" I point to the man in black, "…well, it seems the only thing I know about you is that you don't know a single thing about boundaries since you had your hands all over me just a few seconds ago."
The woman in white looks at the man in black with concern. He doesn't pay her any attention as he narrows his eyes at me while crossing his arms.
"You have no idea who I am?" he questions, "No idea who you are to me?"
"Sorry buddy…have no idea….in fact, if you could just point me in the nearest direction of a phone, I'd like to make a call to my husband who is probably worried about me." I give a smile as best as can knowing full well I don't have a husband but my best friend, Zane, is the best I got and hopefully he can play along.
"It's a good thing he's already here," the man answers while moving toward the bed, "What is it that you'd like to tell me, wife?"
This is the first time within my ARC Reviews where I'm contemplating on what rating to provide a book. I'm not sure if it's the case that this was not the book for me from a "mood reader perspective" or if I’m entering a period of "reading slump", but I found myself stuck in a hard place of deciding where to place this book from an honest view without being "too harsh" just because of the above possible situations that might have occurred and/or be occurring right now.
Let me explain….
When I first received this ARC from NetGalley and Canelo, I was absolutely ESTATIC to dive in. The concept of a new Vampire Romance was right up my alley as something I wanted to read and have found myself in the mood to read more Paranormal and Monster Romances as of late; which is where I categorize Vampire Romances. I had also just finished an Academia Romance before this, so switching gears to this one would be a nice change to something different. Unfortunately, as I starting reading through, the excitement ended up turning into uncertainty. This was the first time that I found myself leaving the book after every few chapters uninterested, and at times completely frustrated.
Before I dive in more about the reason why, let me give an overview of what this book is about…
We have our FMC Liv, also known as Elivienne, who has just woken up and found herself unsure of where she is and who is currently surrounding her. While there are several people happy and excited at the fact that she seems to have just woken up from a coma, she has absolutely no memories of who each of these people are, nor which bed she is currently waking up within. Included within those people surrounding her is our MMC, Celdric, who Liv has no recollection of and has found herself now "scared of" after learning that he, himself, is a Vampire. Celdric, more than willing to understand she has just woken up to a world in which she no longer recognizes, is more than willing to continue being patient in the hope that her memories will come back to her. Unfortunately for Liv, she seems to still be living in the past from a life that she no longer lives, for a boy she believes she still loves, and has to begin piecing back information little by little to help navigate the new world she is in, while also mourning the one that she still thought she had.
While understanding the overview of what to expect, your tropes within this storyline include….
🧛♀️Vampires x Humans
🧛♀️Amnesia x Memory Loss
🧛♀️Love Triangle
🧛♀️Mystery x Betrayals
🧛♀️Slow Burn Reconnection
Keeping both the premise and tropes in mind, this brings you to when you first start the book, once again, with our FMC Liv waking up with no recollection of where she is or why she is there. This concept is very interesting at this point and I'm intrigued to follow through in seeing why she doesn't recognize anyone and how she got to where she is. I enjoyed reading those several chapters seeing her reaction and trying to "put the puzzle pieces together". But after those chapters, I was finding myself losing interest. In fact, the longer I went on, even 50% way through, I felt like I was still right at the beginning on page one; as if I was on an infinite time loop where the exact same conversations, exact same behavior outbursts, exact same arguments, and exact same confusion was still happening.
I found myself starting to ask…
"When is the plot going to start happening here?
"Why is it that we are continuing to do this?"
"Where's the progression or growth with this storyline?"
And my favorite one that I was using often….
"For the love of god, woman, what is wrong with you?!?"
While reading through, I also felt like I just couldn't connect with any of the characters within the book. Many of the characters felt flat, unlikeable, and unmemorable most of the time. And oh my gosh, Liv was so frustrating to me at always being so defensive, crying to herself about her situation constantly and wanting to "start fights/arguments" that I sometimes I just felt like we didn't need her and should have just found a new FMC. Placing the trope of memory loss as the "cherry on top" of it all, I was burnt out and uninterested finishing through this book.
As I mentioned before, it could be possible that I'm being a little too critical here and we could chop this all up to into either…
( A ) Sasha found herself in a reading slump and this was not the read for her current mood like she thought it would be
( B ) Sasha has just found out that the "Memory Loss Trope" is not for her and she should probably stay away from any book which have this trope as the main premise going forward
So please take what I say here as just an opinion and not something that you may feel when you read this book. In fact, as you read through the reviews, you will find there are some people who absolutely LOVED this. So be sure to just take a look at a few reviews first to make sure it's the right fit for you as what I say is just what my experience was when reading and everyone has their own preferences and likes when it comes to book choices.
Overall, while I may have struggled through this one, I do still recommend to take a look at other reviews which gave this 4-5 stars before it comes out on AUGUST 06 2026. This could have all boiled down to the trope of "memory loss" just not being for me and it could be something you absolutely thrive with!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: ⭐ 2 Stars | DNF at 45%
✨ The Vibe
A vampire fantasy filled with lost memories, secrets, political intrigue, and complicated relationships. On paper, this sounded like exactly the kind of book I would enjoy. Unfortunately, it just never fully clicked for me.
📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
After waking up from a coma with no memories of her past, Elivienne is thrown into a world she no longer recognizes. Everyone seems to know who she is, but she has no idea who she can trust, what happened to her, or even who she truly is. As pieces of her past slowly start coming back, she must navigate a world of Vampyrs, hidden secrets, and relationships she can barely remember.
🖤 My Reading Experience
I went into this one really excited. I love vampire stories and I love uncovering mysteries alongside the main character.
Unfortunately, I found myself getting more frustrated than invested.
The biggest issue for me was Liv.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Waking up from a coma with no memories would be terrifying, and I completely understood her confusion at the start. But by the time I reached 45%, I felt like we were still having the exact same conversations and arguments over and over again.
Liv constantly reminded everyone that she wasn’t Elivienne, didn’t know who she was, and wanted to make her own choices. Which is fair… at first. But after hundreds of pages, it started to feel repetitive rather than compelling.
I also struggled with how she treated some of the people around her. Everyone seemed to be trying to help her, especially Celdric, yet she was often immediately defensive, argumentative, or looking for a reason not to trust them. Instead of feeling sympathetic, I found myself repeatedly thinking, girl, please work with me here.
The blood situation also tested my patience.
I completely understood the initial hesitation. If you believed you were human your entire life, suddenly finding out you’re a Vampyr would be a lot to process. But Liv was literally feeling weak, hungry, drawn to blood, and showing all the signs that she needed it… while continuing to refuse it. After a while, I just found it frustrating rather than believable.
The romance and relationship dynamics also left me confused. There’s a bit of a love-triangle situation developing, but by the time I stopped reading, I still wasn’t entirely sure why certain characters were doing what they were doing. Sawyer’s role especially left me with more questions than answers.
And honestly? Halfway through the book, I still felt like I had very little understanding of what was actually going on.
💭 What Didn’t Fully Work for Me
A lot of the story relies on missing memories, vague conversations, and characters withholding information. While I think that was meant to create mystery, it mostly left me feeling disconnected.
The beginning was especially difficult because the story jumps between past and present so frequently that I struggled to get settled into the world. Instead of feeling intrigued by the mystery, I often felt confused.
I also had trouble connecting with the characters emotionally. Because there was so much uncertainty surrounding everyone’s motivations, I never really formed an attachment to them.
One thing that particularly stood out was Liv’s view of Celdric. She repeatedly describes him as cold, cruel, or monstrous, but from what I was actually seeing on the page, he seemed to be trying his best to protect and help her. Maybe later revelations change that perspective, but at 45%, I wasn’t seeing what she was seeing.
🔥 Tropes & Elements
* Vampires / Vampyrs
* Political intrigue
* Love triangle elements
* Mysterious past
* Fantasy romance
* Secrets and betrayals
💔 Emotional Impact
Frustration level: 9/10.
At some point, I realized I was pushing myself to continue rather than looking forward to picking the book back up.
🫶 Final Thoughts
This was ultimately a DNF for me at 45%.
There are definitely readers who may enjoy the slower unraveling mystery and the gradual discovery of Liv’s past. Unfortunately, I never became invested enough in the characters or story to keep going.
I still think the premise has a lot of potential, and there were elements I found interesting, particularly the idea of waking up with no memories and having to piece your life back together. But in the end, this one simply wasn’t the right fit for me.
📢 Disclosure: Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
✨ The Vibe
A vampire fantasy filled with lost memories, secrets, political intrigue, and complicated relationships. On paper, this sounded like exactly the kind of book I would enjoy. Unfortunately, it just never fully clicked for me.
📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
After waking up from a coma with no memories of her past, Elivienne is thrown into a world she no longer recognizes. Everyone seems to know who she is, but she has no idea who she can trust, what happened to her, or even who she truly is. As pieces of her past slowly start coming back, she must navigate a world of Vampyrs, hidden secrets, and relationships she can barely remember.
🖤 My Reading Experience
I went into this one really excited. I love vampire stories and I love uncovering mysteries alongside the main character.
Unfortunately, I found myself getting more frustrated than invested.
The biggest issue for me was Liv.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Waking up from a coma with no memories would be terrifying, and I completely understood her confusion at the start. But by the time I reached 45%, I felt like we were still having the exact same conversations and arguments over and over again.
Liv constantly reminded everyone that she wasn’t Elivienne, didn’t know who she was, and wanted to make her own choices. Which is fair… at first. But after hundreds of pages, it started to feel repetitive rather than compelling.
I also struggled with how she treated some of the people around her. Everyone seemed to be trying to help her, especially Celdric, yet she was often immediately defensive, argumentative, or looking for a reason not to trust them. Instead of feeling sympathetic, I found myself repeatedly thinking, girl, please work with me here.
The blood situation also tested my patience.
I completely understood the initial hesitation. If you believed you were human your entire life, suddenly finding out you’re a Vampyr would be a lot to process. But Liv was literally feeling weak, hungry, drawn to blood, and showing all the signs that she needed it… while continuing to refuse it. After a while, I just found it frustrating rather than believable.
The romance and relationship dynamics also left me confused. There’s a bit of a love-triangle situation developing, but by the time I stopped reading, I still wasn’t entirely sure why certain characters were doing what they were doing. Sawyer’s role especially left me with more questions than answers.
And honestly? Halfway through the book, I still felt like I had very little understanding of what was actually going on.
💭 What Didn’t Fully Work for Me
A lot of the story relies on missing memories, vague conversations, and characters withholding information. While I think that was meant to create mystery, it mostly left me feeling disconnected.
The beginning was especially difficult because the story jumps between past and present so frequently that I struggled to get settled into the world. Instead of feeling intrigued by the mystery, I often felt confused.
I also had trouble connecting with the characters emotionally. Because there was so much uncertainty surrounding everyone’s motivations, I never really formed an attachment to them.
One thing that particularly stood out was Liv’s view of Celdric. She repeatedly describes him as cold, cruel, or monstrous, but from what I was actually seeing on the page, he seemed to be trying his best to protect and help her. Maybe later revelations change that perspective, but at 45%, I wasn’t seeing what she was seeing.
🔥 Tropes & Elements
* Vampires / Vampyrs
* Political intrigue
* Love triangle elements
* Mysterious past
* Fantasy romance
* Secrets and betrayals
💔 Emotional Impact
Frustration level: 9/10.
At some point, I realized I was pushing myself to continue rather than looking forward to picking the book back up.
🫶 Final Thoughts
This was ultimately a DNF for me at 45%.
There are definitely readers who may enjoy the slower unraveling mystery and the gradual discovery of Liv’s past. Unfortunately, I never became invested enough in the characters or story to keep going.
I still think the premise has a lot of potential, and there were elements I found interesting, particularly the idea of waking up with no memories and having to piece your life back together. But in the end, this one simply wasn’t the right fit for me.
📢 Disclosure: Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book pulled me in with its premise, but once I discovered it involved Vampyrs, I was all in. 🦇❤️ The combination of fantasy, mystery, romance, and political intrigue made for an incredibly entertaining read that kept me guessing until the very end.
Liv's journey begins in the most disorienting way possible—she finds herself in a world that feels both familiar and completely foreign, with huge gaps in her memory and more questions than answers. Watching her piece together who she is and what role she's meant to play became one of my favorite parts of the story. Every new revelation seemed to raise even more questions, making it impossible not to keep turning pages. ✨🔮
Then there's Cedric, the formidable Vampyr king of Lux. Powerful, enigmatic, and carrying responsibilities far bigger than himself, he immediately caught my attention. The connection between him and Liv is complicated by the fact that she can't remember the life they're supposed to share, creating plenty of emotional tension throughout the story. 👑🩸
While the opening chapters take their time establishing the different realities and the mysteries surrounding Liv, the payoff is worth it. Once the pieces start falling into place, the pace accelerates dramatically. Secrets begin surfacing, loyalties become questionable, and suddenly every character feels like they might be hiding something. I constantly found myself trying to figure out who was trustworthy and who was playing a much deeper game. 🤔⚔️
The romance develops alongside the larger fantasy plot without overshadowing it. The slow-building attraction, lingering looks, and unresolved feelings create a delicious sense of anticipation. When emotions finally start breaking through those walls, it adds another layer of excitement to an already engaging story. ❤️🔥
Beyond the romance, the looming conflict between Lux and its rivals raises the stakes considerably. Political maneuvering, hidden agendas, and looming danger kept the tension high, especially in the latter half of the book. The final stretch was packed with twists, revelations, and action, making it nearly impossible to put down. ⚡️🗡️
What I enjoyed most was how Ivy continuously challenged my assumptions. Just when I thought I understood what was happening, another piece of the puzzle would emerge and shift everything I thought I knew. 📖✨
Overall, this was an addictive fantasy filled with Vampyrs, forgotten memories, royal intrigue, simmering romance, and plenty of surprises. The ending left me eager for more, and I'm already looking forward to seeing what happens next in Liv and Cedric's story. 🖤🦇👑
Liv's journey begins in the most disorienting way possible—she finds herself in a world that feels both familiar and completely foreign, with huge gaps in her memory and more questions than answers. Watching her piece together who she is and what role she's meant to play became one of my favorite parts of the story. Every new revelation seemed to raise even more questions, making it impossible not to keep turning pages. ✨🔮
Then there's Cedric, the formidable Vampyr king of Lux. Powerful, enigmatic, and carrying responsibilities far bigger than himself, he immediately caught my attention. The connection between him and Liv is complicated by the fact that she can't remember the life they're supposed to share, creating plenty of emotional tension throughout the story. 👑🩸
While the opening chapters take their time establishing the different realities and the mysteries surrounding Liv, the payoff is worth it. Once the pieces start falling into place, the pace accelerates dramatically. Secrets begin surfacing, loyalties become questionable, and suddenly every character feels like they might be hiding something. I constantly found myself trying to figure out who was trustworthy and who was playing a much deeper game. 🤔⚔️
The romance develops alongside the larger fantasy plot without overshadowing it. The slow-building attraction, lingering looks, and unresolved feelings create a delicious sense of anticipation. When emotions finally start breaking through those walls, it adds another layer of excitement to an already engaging story. ❤️🔥
Beyond the romance, the looming conflict between Lux and its rivals raises the stakes considerably. Political maneuvering, hidden agendas, and looming danger kept the tension high, especially in the latter half of the book. The final stretch was packed with twists, revelations, and action, making it nearly impossible to put down. ⚡️🗡️
What I enjoyed most was how Ivy continuously challenged my assumptions. Just when I thought I understood what was happening, another piece of the puzzle would emerge and shift everything I thought I knew. 📖✨
Overall, this was an addictive fantasy filled with Vampyrs, forgotten memories, royal intrigue, simmering romance, and plenty of surprises. The ending left me eager for more, and I'm already looking forward to seeing what happens next in Liv and Cedric's story. 🖤🦇👑
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Of Shadows and Blood
Ivy Rose
Thank you to Hera Books, Canelo, and NetGalley for the ARC
Of Shadows and Blood completely pulled me in from the start. Between the Vampyrs, forgotten memories, royal intrigue, political tension, and slow-burn romance, this was the kind of romantasy that had me constantly saying "just one more chapter."
Liv wakes up in a world she doesn't recognize, surrounded by people who insist she is destined to be their future queen. With fragmented memories and conflicting versions of her past, she must uncover the truth about who she is while navigating a kingdom full of secrets, rival factions, and growing danger.
The mystery was one of my favorite parts of the story. As Liv slowly pieces together her missing memories, new revelations continually reshape everything she—and the reader—thought they knew. I found myself constantly questioning who could be trusted and trying to solve the puzzle alongside her.
Cedric was easily a standout character for me. As the powerful Vampyr king of Lux, he carries the weight of both his kingdom and his complicated history with Liv. The emotional tension between them is strong throughout the book, particularly because Liv remembers nothing of the life they supposedly shared. Their dynamic is filled with longing, frustration, and plenty of yearning.
While the beginning takes some time to establish the world and Liv's circumstances, the second half absolutely takes off. The political intrigue deepens, hidden agendas begin to surface, and the stakes continue to rise as war looms on the horizon. Once the secrets started unraveling, I couldn't put it down.
What to Expect:
• Vampyr King MMC
• Memory Loss Mystery
• Political Intrigue
• Hidden Secrets
• Slow-Burn Romance
• Royal Fantasy
• Yearning & Tension
• War on the Horizon
• Touch Her and Die Energy
The ending left me desperate for book two. There were twists I didn't see coming, questions I still need answered, and a certain Vampyr king I am very invested in seeing again.
A highly entertaining romantasy that balances mystery, romance, and fantasy in a way that kept me hooked until the very last page.
Of Shadows and Blood
Ivy Rose
Thank you to Hera Books, Canelo, and NetGalley for the ARC
Of Shadows and Blood completely pulled me in from the start. Between the Vampyrs, forgotten memories, royal intrigue, political tension, and slow-burn romance, this was the kind of romantasy that had me constantly saying "just one more chapter."
Liv wakes up in a world she doesn't recognize, surrounded by people who insist she is destined to be their future queen. With fragmented memories and conflicting versions of her past, she must uncover the truth about who she is while navigating a kingdom full of secrets, rival factions, and growing danger.
The mystery was one of my favorite parts of the story. As Liv slowly pieces together her missing memories, new revelations continually reshape everything she—and the reader—thought they knew. I found myself constantly questioning who could be trusted and trying to solve the puzzle alongside her.
Cedric was easily a standout character for me. As the powerful Vampyr king of Lux, he carries the weight of both his kingdom and his complicated history with Liv. The emotional tension between them is strong throughout the book, particularly because Liv remembers nothing of the life they supposedly shared. Their dynamic is filled with longing, frustration, and plenty of yearning.
While the beginning takes some time to establish the world and Liv's circumstances, the second half absolutely takes off. The political intrigue deepens, hidden agendas begin to surface, and the stakes continue to rise as war looms on the horizon. Once the secrets started unraveling, I couldn't put it down.
What to Expect:
• Vampyr King MMC
• Memory Loss Mystery
• Political Intrigue
• Hidden Secrets
• Slow-Burn Romance
• Royal Fantasy
• Yearning & Tension
• War on the Horizon
• Touch Her and Die Energy
The ending left me desperate for book two. There were twists I didn't see coming, questions I still need answered, and a certain Vampyr king I am very invested in seeing again.
A highly entertaining romantasy that balances mystery, romance, and fantasy in a way that kept me hooked until the very last page.
June 13, 2026
ARC Review – Of Shadows and Blood by Ivy Rose
Of Shadows and Blood is a romantasy debut that blends memory loss, political intrigue, vampires, magic, and romance into an ambitious story filled with mystery and self-discovery. What makes this novel even more remarkable is knowing that author Ivy Rose wrote it following her own brain injury and months of memory loss, with the story itself drawing inspiration from that experience. That personal connection shines through in the themes of identity, fractured memories, and the search for truth.
Liv awakens in a world she doesn’t recognize, her memories fragmented and her past uncertain. Suddenly surrounded by Vampyr, magic, and a kingdom that believes she is destined to be their future queen, she must uncover who she really is while navigating dangerous alliances, growing attraction, and the threat of war.
One of the strongest aspects of the book was the central mystery. I enjoyed trying to piece together the truth alongside Liv, and there were enough questions throughout the story to keep me turning the pages. The fantasy elements were intriguing, and the romance offered plenty of tension and yearning.
Tropes & Themes:
✨ Amnesia / lost memories
✨ Chosen one vibes
✨ Vampire romance
✨ Hidden identity
✨ Political intrigue
✨ Magic and curses
✨ Slow-burn romance
✨ Mysterious king love interest
✨ Self-discovery journey
For me, the pacing was somewhat uneven. While I was invested in the story and wanted answers, I found the latter part of the book slowed down more than I would have liked. There were moments where the momentum stalled, making it harder to stay fully immersed as the story approached its conclusion.
Overall, Of Shadows and Blood is a promising debut with an interesting premise and a deeply personal inspiration behind it. While the pacing didn’t fully work for me, I appreciated the mystery, world-building, and emotional themes woven throughout the story.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Ivy Rose for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Of Shadows and Blood is a romantasy debut that blends memory loss, political intrigue, vampires, magic, and romance into an ambitious story filled with mystery and self-discovery. What makes this novel even more remarkable is knowing that author Ivy Rose wrote it following her own brain injury and months of memory loss, with the story itself drawing inspiration from that experience. That personal connection shines through in the themes of identity, fractured memories, and the search for truth.
Liv awakens in a world she doesn’t recognize, her memories fragmented and her past uncertain. Suddenly surrounded by Vampyr, magic, and a kingdom that believes she is destined to be their future queen, she must uncover who she really is while navigating dangerous alliances, growing attraction, and the threat of war.
One of the strongest aspects of the book was the central mystery. I enjoyed trying to piece together the truth alongside Liv, and there were enough questions throughout the story to keep me turning the pages. The fantasy elements were intriguing, and the romance offered plenty of tension and yearning.
Tropes & Themes:
✨ Amnesia / lost memories
✨ Chosen one vibes
✨ Vampire romance
✨ Hidden identity
✨ Political intrigue
✨ Magic and curses
✨ Slow-burn romance
✨ Mysterious king love interest
✨ Self-discovery journey
For me, the pacing was somewhat uneven. While I was invested in the story and wanted answers, I found the latter part of the book slowed down more than I would have liked. There were moments where the momentum stalled, making it harder to stay fully immersed as the story approached its conclusion.
Overall, Of Shadows and Blood is a promising debut with an interesting premise and a deeply personal inspiration behind it. While the pacing didn’t fully work for me, I appreciated the mystery, world-building, and emotional themes woven throughout the story.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Ivy Rose for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for an arc.
Of Shadows and Blood by Ivy Rose is a vampyr fantasy romance book which pulls you in from the first chapter. We are immediately thrown into the story, and same as Liv (our FMC), we don't really know anything. The book starts when Liv wakes up from a coma and doesn't remember anything. It's written in her POV, so as readers we are trying to comprehend what is happening and who is trustworthy at the same time as Liv - which is so interesting.
Another thing that I really appreciate in this book is a character who actually has to reckon with a body that doesn't do what it used to. Liv struggles with her training and strength after her injury. In this book we finally escape the "5'2" and 100 lbs but somehow overpowers a 400 lb monster" trope, which is so refreshing.
Another thing worth mentioning is her relationship with Cedric. You can sense the struggle of this relationship - which he remembers and longs for, but she doesn't. The two of them work on themselves alongside each other to navigate this new reality.
I really loved the setting (castle, court, vampyr) and overall vibes.
Saying all that, there were some things I struggled with. One is the premise of the book - as we go further into the story, it was hard for me to understand the end goal. Another is that the story spans roughly a year, and the chapter transitions sometimes lose me. For example, one chapter ends with characters discussing a trip to a kingdom "in two weeks," and the next chapter opens with them already in the carriage - I found myself unsure how much time had passed, why they were now traveling, or what had happened in between. A clearer transition (even something small, like a time marker or a line referencing the decision to leave) would help ground the reader at the start of each new scene.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book. This was my first vampyr novel, and definitely not the last. It's a great first installment, and we'll finally get a proper series and not interconnected standalones. 4/5 ⭐
Of Shadows and Blood by Ivy Rose is a vampyr fantasy romance book which pulls you in from the first chapter. We are immediately thrown into the story, and same as Liv (our FMC), we don't really know anything. The book starts when Liv wakes up from a coma and doesn't remember anything. It's written in her POV, so as readers we are trying to comprehend what is happening and who is trustworthy at the same time as Liv - which is so interesting.
Another thing that I really appreciate in this book is a character who actually has to reckon with a body that doesn't do what it used to. Liv struggles with her training and strength after her injury. In this book we finally escape the "5'2" and 100 lbs but somehow overpowers a 400 lb monster" trope, which is so refreshing.
Another thing worth mentioning is her relationship with Cedric. You can sense the struggle of this relationship - which he remembers and longs for, but she doesn't. The two of them work on themselves alongside each other to navigate this new reality.
I really loved the setting (castle, court, vampyr) and overall vibes.
Saying all that, there were some things I struggled with. One is the premise of the book - as we go further into the story, it was hard for me to understand the end goal. Another is that the story spans roughly a year, and the chapter transitions sometimes lose me. For example, one chapter ends with characters discussing a trip to a kingdom "in two weeks," and the next chapter opens with them already in the carriage - I found myself unsure how much time had passed, why they were now traveling, or what had happened in between. A clearer transition (even something small, like a time marker or a line referencing the decision to leave) would help ground the reader at the start of each new scene.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book. This was my first vampyr novel, and definitely not the last. It's a great first installment, and we'll finally get a proper series and not interconnected standalones. 4/5 ⭐
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Ivy Rose for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
3 ⭐ read
🧛 Vampires
✨ Magic
👑 Court Intrigue
🧠 Amnesia
🤝 Who Do You Trust?
Liv wakes up after a terrible fall only to find out she's been in a coma for two years. The problem is, those two years felt completely real to her. She remembers an entire life and only trusts Sawyer, the man she loved during that time. But as she starts learning about the life she had before the coma, she also notices inconsistencies with what she remembers of her time in the Village. However, it is still hard for her, who should she trust?
Watching Liv try to figure out where she fits was one of my favorite parts of the book. She's torn between the life she remembers and the one everyone insists she had before. Should she fight to get her memories back, or accept the person she's become? Along the way, she starts building relationships with the people around her, especially Cedric, but it's hard to ignore everything she remembers about Sawyer and her life in the Village. It really keeps you wondering who, if anyone, deserves her trust.
I really liked how Ivy wrote Liv's perspective. You're just as lost and confused as Liv is, trying to piece everything together right alongside her. Every new clue had me questioning what I thought I knew, and I loved that I never felt like I was ahead of the main character. Though there were times I wanted to scream at her and say, 'Girl, he is manipulating you, trust your feelings'.
Towards the end of the book is where everything really starts coming together. The stakes get higher as war begins brewing between neighboring kingdoms. Though Liv has learned that the amnesia wasn't an accident along with who did it and why, she is still faced with dealing with the aftermath of it all. That ending definitely caught my attention and left me wanting to grab book two right away, though I will have to wait for its release.
I'm excited to see where the Vampyr Realm series goes from here.
3 ⭐ read
🧛 Vampires
✨ Magic
👑 Court Intrigue
🧠 Amnesia
🤝 Who Do You Trust?
Liv wakes up after a terrible fall only to find out she's been in a coma for two years. The problem is, those two years felt completely real to her. She remembers an entire life and only trusts Sawyer, the man she loved during that time. But as she starts learning about the life she had before the coma, she also notices inconsistencies with what she remembers of her time in the Village. However, it is still hard for her, who should she trust?
Watching Liv try to figure out where she fits was one of my favorite parts of the book. She's torn between the life she remembers and the one everyone insists she had before. Should she fight to get her memories back, or accept the person she's become? Along the way, she starts building relationships with the people around her, especially Cedric, but it's hard to ignore everything she remembers about Sawyer and her life in the Village. It really keeps you wondering who, if anyone, deserves her trust.
I really liked how Ivy wrote Liv's perspective. You're just as lost and confused as Liv is, trying to piece everything together right alongside her. Every new clue had me questioning what I thought I knew, and I loved that I never felt like I was ahead of the main character. Though there were times I wanted to scream at her and say, 'Girl, he is manipulating you, trust your feelings'.
Towards the end of the book is where everything really starts coming together. The stakes get higher as war begins brewing between neighboring kingdoms. Though Liv has learned that the amnesia wasn't an accident along with who did it and why, she is still faced with dealing with the aftermath of it all. That ending definitely caught my attention and left me wanting to grab book two right away, though I will have to wait for its release.
I'm excited to see where the Vampyr Realm series goes from here.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When I saw the description for this book I was excited to read it! When I saw there were Vampyrs too? Sold!
Our FMC Liv wakes up in an unfamiliar place only to find out reality is not what she thought it was! The beginning of the story was a little slower as we go between realities but as we progress through it begins to pick up!
The Vampyr king Cedric is the powerful ruler of the kingdom of Lux where Liv finds herself. Not only does she have no memory of her life here but also no memory of the fact she is meant to be the future queen alongside Cedric.
As Liv works to try and learn her truths there is some rising tension and yearning between herself and a certain Vampyr, I do love when yearning boils over into some spice scenes too 🌶
“𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙇𝙞𝙫,”
That's not the only tension in the story though, with war brewing between Lux and another kingdom. Ivy does a great job as the story goes on of making you question everything, like Who can be trusted? Who can't? Who's being deceitful?
The second half of the book really picks up on the action front as secrets and schemes are revealed. It was so fast paced leading up to the end, I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next!!
Thank you so much to Hera books/ Canelo for the review copy 🫶🏻
Our FMC Liv wakes up in an unfamiliar place only to find out reality is not what she thought it was! The beginning of the story was a little slower as we go between realities but as we progress through it begins to pick up!
The Vampyr king Cedric is the powerful ruler of the kingdom of Lux where Liv finds herself. Not only does she have no memory of her life here but also no memory of the fact she is meant to be the future queen alongside Cedric.
As Liv works to try and learn her truths there is some rising tension and yearning between herself and a certain Vampyr, I do love when yearning boils over into some spice scenes too 🌶
“𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙇𝙞𝙫,”
That's not the only tension in the story though, with war brewing between Lux and another kingdom. Ivy does a great job as the story goes on of making you question everything, like Who can be trusted? Who can't? Who's being deceitful?
The second half of the book really picks up on the action front as secrets and schemes are revealed. It was so fast paced leading up to the end, I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next!!
Thank you so much to Hera books/ Canelo for the review copy 🫶🏻
June 29, 2026
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Of Shadows and Blood follows our FMC, Liv who wakes up in a world she doesn’t recognise, basically full chaos mode, with missing memories and a whole kingdom insisting she is meant to be their future queen. Nothing makes sense, everyone is a little suspicious, and she is trying to figure out who she even is while navigating Vampyr politics, dangerous secrets, and a very intense connection with Cedric, the broody Vampyr king of Lux. The mystery around her past keeps unravelling in layers, and every answer just creates three more questions, which honestly makes it very hard to put the book down because you just need to know what is going on.
I really enjoyed the mystery and the whole trying to solve the puzzle alongside Liv situation, even when I was side eyeing half the cast wondering who is lying. Cedric definitely steals attention as the powerful, emotionally complicated king with a lot going on under the surface, and the tension between him and Liv is chef’s kiss slow burn energy. It does start a bit slow, and I can see why people might get impatient, but around the 60 percent mark it really takes off, and that ending! I'm so looking forward to seeing where the story goes next!
Of Shadows and Blood follows our FMC, Liv who wakes up in a world she doesn’t recognise, basically full chaos mode, with missing memories and a whole kingdom insisting she is meant to be their future queen. Nothing makes sense, everyone is a little suspicious, and she is trying to figure out who she even is while navigating Vampyr politics, dangerous secrets, and a very intense connection with Cedric, the broody Vampyr king of Lux. The mystery around her past keeps unravelling in layers, and every answer just creates three more questions, which honestly makes it very hard to put the book down because you just need to know what is going on.
I really enjoyed the mystery and the whole trying to solve the puzzle alongside Liv situation, even when I was side eyeing half the cast wondering who is lying. Cedric definitely steals attention as the powerful, emotionally complicated king with a lot going on under the surface, and the tension between him and Liv is chef’s kiss slow burn energy. It does start a bit slow, and I can see why people might get impatient, but around the 60 percent mark it really takes off, and that ending! I'm so looking forward to seeing where the story goes next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Of Shadows and Blood combines vampires, lost memories, political intrigue, magic, and romance into a story with an intriguing premise and plenty of mystery. From the opening chapters, I was curious to uncover the truth alongside Liv, and the amnesia plotline created a strong sense of suspense that kept me reading.
One of the book's biggest strengths is its central mystery. I enjoyed gradually piecing together what had happened to Liv and discovering how she fit into this world. The fantasy elements were interesting, and there were moments where the romance and court intrigue really shone.
That said, I struggled with the pacing. While the first half held my attention, the story began to lose momentum for me as it progressed. Some sections felt slower than necessary, and I found myself less invested in the later stages of the plot than I had been at the start. A few character relationships also developed in ways that didn't fully click for me.
Overall, Of Shadows and Blood has an engaging concept, some compelling twists, and a mystery that kept me guessing. Although it wasn't a perfect fit for my reading tastes, I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy vampire romantasy, hidden identities, and stories centred around self-discovery.
One of the book's biggest strengths is its central mystery. I enjoyed gradually piecing together what had happened to Liv and discovering how she fit into this world. The fantasy elements were interesting, and there were moments where the romance and court intrigue really shone.
That said, I struggled with the pacing. While the first half held my attention, the story began to lose momentum for me as it progressed. Some sections felt slower than necessary, and I found myself less invested in the later stages of the plot than I had been at the start. A few character relationships also developed in ways that didn't fully click for me.
Overall, Of Shadows and Blood has an engaging concept, some compelling twists, and a mystery that kept me guessing. Although it wasn't a perfect fit for my reading tastes, I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy vampire romantasy, hidden identities, and stories centred around self-discovery.
Did Not Finish
May 30, 2026⫷ NetGalley and Hera Books provided the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review ⫸
DNF @ 36%
- Amnesia
- Love Triangle (So far)
- Cess Vampyr (h)
- Single POV [First Person]
- Cliffhanger
Thoughts :
- First, the plot idea seemed interesting. But the execution could've been better. Unfortunately, I was not captivated enough to continue. The synopsis seemed interesting, which was why I requested this book in the first place. But then again, it's just my opinion.
- The characters. They were as confusing as the amnesiac female protagonist. Anyway, I did not like her. I wanted to. But she was just so annoying with her repetitive behavior. I get it that she just discovered herself in a weird place in a weird reality, but did she really have to treat everyone like sh!t? No one actually treated her badly, and they were trying to help her. Her instinct sucked as well. Anyway, I can't continue a book where I didn't like the main character.
- I did skip to the end to see who she ended up with. Even though it ended in a cliffhanger, I got to know who she's gonna end up with.
DNF @ 36%
- Amnesia
- Love Triangle (So far)
- Cess Vampyr (h)
- Single POV [First Person]
- Cliffhanger
Thoughts :
- First, the plot idea seemed interesting. But the execution could've been better. Unfortunately, I was not captivated enough to continue. The synopsis seemed interesting, which was why I requested this book in the first place. But then again, it's just my opinion.
- The characters. They were as confusing as the amnesiac female protagonist. Anyway, I did not like her. I wanted to. But she was just so annoying with her repetitive behavior. I get it that she just discovered herself in a weird place in a weird reality, but did she really have to treat everyone like sh!t? No one actually treated her badly, and they were trying to help her. Her instinct sucked as well. Anyway, I can't continue a book where I didn't like the main character.
- I did skip to the end to see who she ended up with. Even though it ended in a cliffhanger, I got to know who she's gonna end up with.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pre-Publication Review -
Very thankful to have gotten the opportunity to read this pre-release! The author was at an event I visited and let me get it early! Very sweet person to talk with, too ❤️
Initially, this book was a 50/50 for me as I'm not much a fan of the amnesia trope, but am a big fan of vampires and gothic settings.
The beginning can be a bit tough to get into as you discover the world at the same time as Liv (FMC) does, and there are jumps between the past and the present. But I find that to be engaging and to help the immersion at the same time. It gets a lot clearer quickly as you read!
While sometimes Liv's reactions can be frustrating, it is also very human. I love her anyway!! The world and the twists make me very curious to see where it will all go, the spice was great too! And that ending!!
Took me some time to get to the middle of the book, but from then on it was difficult to let go of it! I grew fond of Liv, though I'll admit I especially loved Cedric.
Now I NEED BOOK TWO OMG
Very thankful to have gotten the opportunity to read this pre-release! The author was at an event I visited and let me get it early! Very sweet person to talk with, too ❤️
Initially, this book was a 50/50 for me as I'm not much a fan of the amnesia trope, but am a big fan of vampires and gothic settings.
The beginning can be a bit tough to get into as you discover the world at the same time as Liv (FMC) does, and there are jumps between the past and the present. But I find that to be engaging and to help the immersion at the same time. It gets a lot clearer quickly as you read!
While sometimes Liv's reactions can be frustrating, it is also very human. I love her anyway!! The world and the twists make me very curious to see where it will all go, the spice was great too! And that ending!!
Took me some time to get to the middle of the book, but from then on it was difficult to let go of it! I grew fond of Liv, though I'll admit I especially loved Cedric.
Now I NEED BOOK TWO OMG
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ DNF at 30%
I received an ARC of Of Shadows and Blood from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t the right fit for me. I made it to about 30%, and while I’m sure there will be readers who connect with this story, I personally struggled to stay engaged.
The premise sounded interesting, and I was curious about the world and where Liv’s story would go, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Nothing really pulled me in enough to keep turning the pages, and the story started to feel a little too familiar compared to other romantic fantasy books I’ve read. I kept waiting for that unique element or emotional hook to grab me, but it just didn’t happen.
This isn’t necessarily a reflection of the book being bad it simply wasn’t for me. I think readers who enjoy slower-starting fantasy romance with forgotten memories, royal destiny, vampyr kingdoms, curses, and political tension may have a better experience with it than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher/author for the opportunity to read and review.
I received an ARC of Of Shadows and Blood from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t the right fit for me. I made it to about 30%, and while I’m sure there will be readers who connect with this story, I personally struggled to stay engaged.
The premise sounded interesting, and I was curious about the world and where Liv’s story would go, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Nothing really pulled me in enough to keep turning the pages, and the story started to feel a little too familiar compared to other romantic fantasy books I’ve read. I kept waiting for that unique element or emotional hook to grab me, but it just didn’t happen.
This isn’t necessarily a reflection of the book being bad it simply wasn’t for me. I think readers who enjoy slower-starting fantasy romance with forgotten memories, royal destiny, vampyr kingdoms, curses, and political tension may have a better experience with it than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher/author for the opportunity to read and review.
September 5, 2026
WOW! I’m baffled to see some others didn’t enjoy the book! I LOOOOVED it. Me personally I’m not a big reader I never enjoyed it in school but I saw the back of this one and it caught my eye. Immediately from the back my attention was pulled and the story line was very intriguing! Soon as I started reading I was hooked, I fell in-love with the main character (Liv) and loved the backstory to do with her amnesia. There was some big plot twists along this line and it really had me putting the book down to talk to my imaginary spectators! I adore the love in this story Especially how she falls in love again with the king. Was heartbroken when I found out the second book wasn’t out but just makes me so much more excited for when it does come out! I really truly recommend this book it is wonderful, not to mention the author is so lovely and helpful answering questions about her second book! ❤️❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐⭐⭐.5
There were a lot of elements to this book that I enjoyed! The political intrigue, the mystery around how and why the FMC lost her memories, the story of her finding her way to accepting her life again etc.
However, I struggled with the first half of the book because the FMC spent SO long convinced that the MMC was the devil even though he really showed no signs of wanting anything except to make her comfortable and help her. It felt like a lot of her thoughts/actions were quite repetitive and I just wanted the story to move forward a little quicker.
That being said, from the 50 - 55% mark I do feel like the story picked up a lot. I enjoyed getting to see other areas of the world and seeing Cedric interact with the other kings was great! Liv meeting more people who used to be great friends with her and who also just wanted the best for her was really sweet.
There were a lot of elements to this book that I enjoyed! The political intrigue, the mystery around how and why the FMC lost her memories, the story of her finding her way to accepting her life again etc.
However, I struggled with the first half of the book because the FMC spent SO long convinced that the MMC was the devil even though he really showed no signs of wanting anything except to make her comfortable and help her. It felt like a lot of her thoughts/actions were quite repetitive and I just wanted the story to move forward a little quicker.
That being said, from the 50 - 55% mark I do feel like the story picked up a lot. I enjoyed getting to see other areas of the world and seeing Cedric interact with the other kings was great! Liv meeting more people who used to be great friends with her and who also just wanted the best for her was really sweet.
June 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
I love a good romantasy, especially when it involves vampires, mystery, intrigue and magical healing beings, so I was looking forward to this one!
I was caught up in Liv’s story from the start. As she awakens from a coma after two years, she begins to question the reality she remembers and the one she’s now living..
As I got further into the story, I found myself often frustrated with Liv and her constant fighting against who she was/is. I began to find her less likable as the story progressed.
Overall I enjoyed this book and will likely read the next chapter to see the outcome and where Liv and Cedric’s relationship goes.
I love a good romantasy, especially when it involves vampires, mystery, intrigue and magical healing beings, so I was looking forward to this one!
I was caught up in Liv’s story from the start. As she awakens from a coma after two years, she begins to question the reality she remembers and the one she’s now living..
As I got further into the story, I found myself often frustrated with Liv and her constant fighting against who she was/is. I began to find her less likable as the story progressed.
Overall I enjoyed this book and will likely read the next chapter to see the outcome and where Liv and Cedric’s relationship goes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for this ARC :)
This was an addictive story that hooked me with its mix of Vampyrs, mystery, romance, and royal intrigue. Really, give me anything with vampires and romance and I am in!
I loved unraveling Liv's missing memories alongside her, and the constant twists kept me guessing about who could really be trusted. Cedric was an intriguing character, and the slow-burn romance added plenty of emotional tension without taking over the larger story. While the pacing felt a bit repetitive in the middle and I occasionally wanted the plot line to move along faster, the satisfying final stretch more than made up for it. Overall, this was an entertaining (and unique) read that left me curious to see where Liv and Cedric's story goes next.
This was an addictive story that hooked me with its mix of Vampyrs, mystery, romance, and royal intrigue. Really, give me anything with vampires and romance and I am in!
I loved unraveling Liv's missing memories alongside her, and the constant twists kept me guessing about who could really be trusted. Cedric was an intriguing character, and the slow-burn romance added plenty of emotional tension without taking over the larger story. While the pacing felt a bit repetitive in the middle and I occasionally wanted the plot line to move along faster, the satisfying final stretch more than made up for it. Overall, this was an entertaining (and unique) read that left me curious to see where Liv and Cedric's story goes next.
July 22, 2026
I’m surprised by all the negative reviews for this book. I thought it was really good. There were some flaws, but DNF-ing or not enjoying this? Crazy
Reading was a bit difficult at times with the somewhat poor transitions between scenes or within the same scene. It made following what was happening a little hard to understand sometimes. I read the uncorrected proof though so future edits might fix that.
The ending was abrupt. I was actually so annoyed by it. One more chapter would’ve been perfect to leave us satisfied-ish but still leave us wanting and needing more.
I look forward to the second book!
Reading was a bit difficult at times with the somewhat poor transitions between scenes or within the same scene. It made following what was happening a little hard to understand sometimes. I read the uncorrected proof though so future edits might fix that.
The ending was abrupt. I was actually so annoyed by it. One more chapter would’ve been perfect to leave us satisfied-ish but still leave us wanting and needing more.
I look forward to the second book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you for the arc.
I definitely think some people are going to love this book, but this book was not for me.
Our fmc suffers from memory loss and it starts off her waking up being with a healer and someone who knows her.
Well I was hoping after she got her footing the fmc would get better but she did not. To me she was repetitive, boring and a bit insufferable. She was also rude and I just couldnt connect to her
The writing was good, the story was good. It just was a bit to repetitive for me.
I absolutely love vampire romances and I definitely think there is an audience out there who will love this book
I definitely think some people are going to love this book, but this book was not for me.
Our fmc suffers from memory loss and it starts off her waking up being with a healer and someone who knows her.
Well I was hoping after she got her footing the fmc would get better but she did not. To me she was repetitive, boring and a bit insufferable. She was also rude and I just couldnt connect to her
The writing was good, the story was good. It just was a bit to repetitive for me.
I absolutely love vampire romances and I definitely think there is an audience out there who will love this book
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Of shadows and Blood
Ivy Rose
DNF @ 32%
The premise of this really had me intrigued.. a romantasy story with vamparies mixed with a bit of amnesia and i was sold.
Unfortunately this wasn't for me. As the book went on, it did not captivate me enough to keep me engaged with the story to keep going. I found myself confused at times as it jumps back and forth in the story telling which lost its momentum.
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review
Ivy Rose
DNF @ 32%
The premise of this really had me intrigued.. a romantasy story with vamparies mixed with a bit of amnesia and i was sold.
Unfortunately this wasn't for me. As the book went on, it did not captivate me enough to keep me engaged with the story to keep going. I found myself confused at times as it jumps back and forth in the story telling which lost its momentum.
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review
Did Not Finish
August 24, 2026Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. The premise sounded really interesting, but the more I read, the less I understood what was happening and the less things made sense. Liv, the main character, was not someone I could find myself rooting for. I also felt the plot and pacing to be a little disjointed and I just could not get invested. I think this will find its niche with readers, especially those who enjoy vampire romances, love triangles or amnesia tropes, but this one just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Hera Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Hera Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book had so much promise! The beginning immediately drew me in and had me intrigued with Liv's situation. The mystery of everything kept me reading. But I found myself getting frustrated with Liv and some of the decisions she made as the story went on. MCs that I should have felt invested in just held no emotional sway over me, and as a result I felt pretty disconnected from them and the story as a whole. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
DNF at 15%
I wanted to love this. The premise sounded so cool; on paper, it was right up my alley. Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with the story or our protagonist. I was, frankly, extremely bored. The writing and pacing are disjointed. As a reader, the writing style and voice made me feel detached and uninvested in the story. With how intriguing the premise is, I was really disappointed that this didn't deliver.
DNF at 15%
I wanted to love this. The premise sounded so cool; on paper, it was right up my alley. Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with the story or our protagonist. I was, frankly, extremely bored. The writing and pacing are disjointed. As a reader, the writing style and voice made me feel detached and uninvested in the story. With how intriguing the premise is, I was really disappointed that this didn't deliver.
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