What do you think?
Rate this book
Cruel Fates #2
Once Written in Gilded Blood (Standard Edition)
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 30Love is the sharpest weapon of all….
Born with gilded blood, Alira is a demigod knight forged for war - her rare gift makes her both priceless and disposable in the eyes of the gods she serves. When centuries of bloodshed threaten to consume the world, she is sent into a political marriage with Kalel Lornhelm, the infamous Blood Knight and demon commander of Devicit.
Devicit is a kingdom of beauty and terror, hidden behind a shimmering magical veil. As Alira is drawn into demon life, mistrust slowly gives way to desire, and Alira learns that Kalel has been bound to her fate far longer than she ever knew.
But beneath the city’s splendour lies a devastating secret. As gods rise, war reignites, and the systems that shaped them both demand blood once more, Alira and Kalel must confront the cost of peace….
Born with gilded blood, Alira is a demigod knight forged for war - her rare gift makes her both priceless and disposable in the eyes of the gods she serves. When centuries of bloodshed threaten to consume the world, she is sent into a political marriage with Kalel Lornhelm, the infamous Blood Knight and demon commander of Devicit.
Devicit is a kingdom of beauty and terror, hidden behind a shimmering magical veil. As Alira is drawn into demon life, mistrust slowly gives way to desire, and Alira learns that Kalel has been bound to her fate far longer than she ever knew.
But beneath the city’s splendour lies a devastating secret. As gods rise, war reignites, and the systems that shaped them both demand blood once more, Alira and Kalel must confront the cost of peace….
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 18, 2026
About the author
K.M. Moronova
18 books9,713 followersNew York Times, USA Today, and #1 International bestselling author K. M. Moronova has enjoyed telling dreary stories as far as she can remember. She adores reading and writing dark-themed, romantic books with plot twists and emotional turns. Often, she is found drying flowers in her study or drinking tea while relaxing in her garden. She loves spending time with her partner, exploring the forest, and envisioning more devastating stories to tell.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
August 12, 2025
I'M CRYING BECAUSE WHAT DO YOU MEEEEAN I HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER WHOLE YEAR FOR THIS 😭😭😭😭😭
October 20, 2025
I swear I'm going to die if I have to wait a whole year😭
K.M. release it sooner and my life is yours
(I literally created this account just to say this)
K.M. release it sooner and my life is yours
(I literally created this account just to say this)
September 22, 2025
1 year?!😭😭😭 I can’t I wanna read this noww after how awesome the first book was ahhh
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read the first book in this duet a year ago when it was indie-published. I really enjoyed it, so I was eagerly waiting for the sequel. But this book did not meet my expectations.
Fearless Kalel, whom I loved in the first book, turned out to be completely different here. He is insecure, lies, and doesn’t even fight for Alira against the king. The only character I liked was Nikolai.
Overall, the world felt quite small-scale for a fantasy book. There were only a few secondary characters. Alira constantly faced new problems, but the solutions were also found too easily and out of nowhere. It was even difficult for me to make any theories because the plot felt chaotic. The ending was rushed, and I wasn’t satisfied with it. I didn’t even feel the chemistry between the characters like I did in the first book.
Maybe if this had been a standalone book, I would have had a different impression, but for now, I expected more.
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books (Bloom Books) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Fearless Kalel, whom I loved in the first book, turned out to be completely different here. He is insecure, lies, and doesn’t even fight for Alira against the king. The only character I liked was Nikolai.
Overall, the world felt quite small-scale for a fantasy book. There were only a few secondary characters. Alira constantly faced new problems, but the solutions were also found too easily and out of nowhere. It was even difficult for me to make any theories because the plot felt chaotic. The ending was rushed, and I wasn’t satisfied with it. I didn’t even feel the chemistry between the characters like I did in the first book.
Maybe if this had been a standalone book, I would have had a different impression, but for now, I expected more.
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books (Bloom Books) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 28, 2026
thank you so much NetGalley and K M Moronova for the arc!
i wish we had more of kalel groveling for alira's forgiveness, but overall i really liked how everything went and i'm still completely obsessed with kalel's dirty mouth 😝💘
i wish we had more of kalel groveling for alira's forgiveness, but overall i really liked how everything went and i'm still completely obsessed with kalel's dirty mouth 😝💘
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2,5⭐️
I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of "Once Written in Gilded Blood" from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am absolutely heartbroken to be writing this review. I have been looking forward to this book, the final part of the Cruel Fates Duet, for months. The first book set up such a fascinating world and left me on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, my overwhelming feeling upon turning the last page was sheer disappointment. It is rare for a sequel to feel so disconnected from its predecessor.
My primary grievance is with the character development. Both Kalel and Alira felt like strangers. Their personalities, which were so strong and defined in the first book, completely evaporated. Where is the fierce "Blood Knight" demon commander I fell in love with? Kalel in this installment is unrecognizable. He spends almost the entire story crying, moping, and appearing utterly broken. He has no backbone and simply exists like a decorative plant in the corner, paralyzed by fear. It was a chore to read about someone so submissive when I expected a warrior.
The repetition with Alira was equally exhausting. Her inner monologue throughout the book is a broken record: "I love him, but I can't trust him." We get it. We understood this conflict by chapter three. To have the same thought cycle repeated twenty times over the next 300 pages is not emotional depth; it is poor editing. Move on.
The story itself felt disjointed, lacking a clear, cohesive thread to guide the reader. The timeline was a particular nightmare. It's so convoluted and confusing that I only realized how much time had passed—whether it was days or weeks—halfway through many chapters. This lack of structure made it impossible to stay immersed. The writing feels totally different, making me question if it was even the same author.
On top of the messy timeline, many plot threads felt meaningless. For example, why did we spend time on her ability to communicate with dragons? It was a massive revelation that led absolutely nowhere. It had zero impact on the final outcome, making it feel like unnecessary page filler.
Finally, after enduring all of this, the ending was incredibly anticlimactic. For a duet finale that promised a conclusion to a years-long war and divine conflict, it just sort of... finished. It was a wet blanket, not a resolution. I wanted to love this final act, but I’ve been left feeling entirely let down by characters I once admired. It's just sad
I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of "Once Written in Gilded Blood" from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am absolutely heartbroken to be writing this review. I have been looking forward to this book, the final part of the Cruel Fates Duet, for months. The first book set up such a fascinating world and left me on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, my overwhelming feeling upon turning the last page was sheer disappointment. It is rare for a sequel to feel so disconnected from its predecessor.
My primary grievance is with the character development. Both Kalel and Alira felt like strangers. Their personalities, which were so strong and defined in the first book, completely evaporated. Where is the fierce "Blood Knight" demon commander I fell in love with? Kalel in this installment is unrecognizable. He spends almost the entire story crying, moping, and appearing utterly broken. He has no backbone and simply exists like a decorative plant in the corner, paralyzed by fear. It was a chore to read about someone so submissive when I expected a warrior.
The repetition with Alira was equally exhausting. Her inner monologue throughout the book is a broken record: "I love him, but I can't trust him." We get it. We understood this conflict by chapter three. To have the same thought cycle repeated twenty times over the next 300 pages is not emotional depth; it is poor editing. Move on.
The story itself felt disjointed, lacking a clear, cohesive thread to guide the reader. The timeline was a particular nightmare. It's so convoluted and confusing that I only realized how much time had passed—whether it was days or weeks—halfway through many chapters. This lack of structure made it impossible to stay immersed. The writing feels totally different, making me question if it was even the same author.
On top of the messy timeline, many plot threads felt meaningless. For example, why did we spend time on her ability to communicate with dragons? It was a massive revelation that led absolutely nowhere. It had zero impact on the final outcome, making it feel like unnecessary page filler.
Finally, after enduring all of this, the ending was incredibly anticlimactic. For a duet finale that promised a conclusion to a years-long war and divine conflict, it just sort of... finished. It was a wet blanket, not a resolution. I wanted to love this final act, but I’ve been left feeling entirely let down by characters I once admired. It's just sad
July 28, 2026
I fought on Netgalley to get an early copy of this book because I was DESPERATE for it. I devoured it the moment I received a copy and OH — it was a ride!
I felt like I was gonna have the panic attack reading most of this book because there’s so much DREAD wrapped around every scene and every interaction.
And yet I loved every second of it 😮💨😮💨😮💨
There’s a 3-month time skip between book 1 and 2, so we actually see Alira settle into her life as Kalel’s wife. In that time, he seemed to have softened to her a by lot. And yet, it’s also immediately obvious that she lives in a gilded cage and the walls of that cage is slowly closing in on her.
Kalel’s secrets are also closing in on him. It’s so interesting to see him war with his desperation to make Alira love him and ~not be a monster while still hating her for the sack of Thornhall WHILE also serving his king and kingdom.
The situation they are both in are…f*cked.
No, seriously 😩
They had very little hope for peace but they both try anyway.
GAAAAAHHHH they really are both tragic characters and I HURT SO MUCH FOR THEM 😭😭😭
“𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤.”
The way it resolved is so ✨bittersweet✨ and my heart aches for the sacrifices Alira and Kalel gave to the world. They deserve only peace and happiness together and more time spent on 🪢🪢🪢 (IYKYK 🥵).
“𝙄’𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙩, 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙨.
I absolutely LOVE this duet! There’s soooo much angst and pain and hurt but it also has love and hope.
10000/10 stars ⭐️
I really also must highlight how incredible of a side character Nikolai is the entire book. His conviction makes him maybe even hotter than Kalel sometimes??? At least for me 🥵 I really TRULY loved him.
He’s a ride or die friend and just overall an amazing person who deserves all and only good things to happen to him.
I felt like I was gonna have the panic attack reading most of this book because there’s so much DREAD wrapped around every scene and every interaction.
And yet I loved every second of it 😮💨😮💨😮💨
There’s a 3-month time skip between book 1 and 2, so we actually see Alira settle into her life as Kalel’s wife. In that time, he seemed to have softened to her a by lot. And yet, it’s also immediately obvious that she lives in a gilded cage and the walls of that cage is slowly closing in on her.
Kalel’s secrets are also closing in on him. It’s so interesting to see him war with his desperation to make Alira love him and ~not be a monster while still hating her for the sack of Thornhall WHILE also serving his king and kingdom.
The situation they are both in are…f*cked.
No, seriously 😩
They had very little hope for peace but they both try anyway.
GAAAAAHHHH they really are both tragic characters and I HURT SO MUCH FOR THEM 😭😭😭
“𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤.”
The way it resolved is so ✨bittersweet✨ and my heart aches for the sacrifices Alira and Kalel gave to the world. They deserve only peace and happiness together and more time spent on 🪢🪢🪢 (IYKYK 🥵).
“𝙄’𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙩, 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙨.
I absolutely LOVE this duet! There’s soooo much angst and pain and hurt but it also has love and hope.
10000/10 stars ⭐️
I really also must highlight how incredible of a side character Nikolai is the entire book. His conviction makes him maybe even hotter than Kalel sometimes??? At least for me 🥵 I really TRULY loved him.
He’s a ride or die friend and just overall an amazing person who deserves all and only good things to happen to him.
July 29, 2026
Thank you to K.M. Moronova and Bloom Books for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. I really enjoyed the first book and unfortunately everything I liked was missing from the follow-up. It pains me to say the characters felt one dimensional and the plot felt unfinished and rushed.
July 25, 2026
ahh i’m a little disappointed by the conclusion to this duet. I absolutely loved book 1, but felt let down by book 2. the writing felt so childish, and definitely needs a good editor. the first half is just drawn out of “I don’t trust him, but I love him, but I don’t trust him”, while kalel goes back and forth between knowing he’s messed up while refusing to own up to it. and then the last half, things start happening but it all ends up feeling rushed & very anticlimactic.
Want to Read
May 14, 2026I really did love Once Upon a Demon's Heart, but if Alira doesn't gather her senses and kick Kalel's butt a few times, I'll be extremely disappointed.
Kalel on the other hand needs to get on his knees and GROVEL.
Kalel on the other hand needs to get on his knees and GROVEL.
Read
December 16, 2025JULY?!?! Oh that’s just cruel!!! Did I preorder it already yes but holy s***….. I feel so horrible for Alira and I really hope she steps out of this blind loyalty for Kalel and wakes the hell up to all that is happening to her.
July 27, 2026
Jumping back into the story with Kalel and Alira was exactly what I needed — angst, hurt, comfort, love and adoration. I spent the first few chapters praying Kalel would be honest with Alira and admit his faults, although he’s reluctant for many (obvious) reasons to come clean to her. His inner turmoil battles constantly with what he feels he should do for her, or for the sake of his kingdom and people.
K. M. Moronova always does a spectacular job at hurting the characters in a way that’s crucial to the story and my heart ached for them so much throughout the story. I’m such a sucker for “hurt them and put them back together” and this is no exception. Kalel’s groveling was much needed (and could’ve gone on longer, I personally think).
I loved, loved, loved the realization of how Venus had a hand in tying Kalel’s life to Alira’s. We learn so much about his childhood and how different his life would’ve been, had not he met Alira that fateful night as a child. The story wafts between a combination of is it up to the fates, is it up to Alira (and/or Kalel), or do the God’s have the last say-so? I went back and forth often with trying to decide who I felt held the ultimate choice on how the story would play out.
The ending was wonderful and did justice to not only them, but also their friends who loved and cared for them as well. It’s easy to love Nikolai and Tessa (to an extent — Tessa never quite grew on me but I give her a pass) and to see how their future played out was a nice touch to add in.
I’m so sad Kalel and Alira’s story is over but the ending was beautiful. I couldn’t have wished for better for them and there is such relief in seeing their joy together despite how much they’re forced to go through!
K. M. Moronova always does a spectacular job at hurting the characters in a way that’s crucial to the story and my heart ached for them so much throughout the story. I’m such a sucker for “hurt them and put them back together” and this is no exception. Kalel’s groveling was much needed (and could’ve gone on longer, I personally think).
I loved, loved, loved the realization of how Venus had a hand in tying Kalel’s life to Alira’s. We learn so much about his childhood and how different his life would’ve been, had not he met Alira that fateful night as a child. The story wafts between a combination of is it up to the fates, is it up to Alira (and/or Kalel), or do the God’s have the last say-so? I went back and forth often with trying to decide who I felt held the ultimate choice on how the story would play out.
The ending was wonderful and did justice to not only them, but also their friends who loved and cared for them as well. It’s easy to love Nikolai and Tessa (to an extent — Tessa never quite grew on me but I give her a pass) and to see how their future played out was a nice touch to add in.
I’m so sad Kalel and Alira’s story is over but the ending was beautiful. I couldn’t have wished for better for them and there is such relief in seeing their joy together despite how much they’re forced to go through!
July 24, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and K.M. Moronova for the advanced reader copy.
Such a great ending to an incredible story. I loved this book from start to finish just like Once Upon A Demons Heart.
The story of Alira and Kalel is one for the books.
I loved that we got more Kalel perspective in this book. Seeing into both of their minds and understanding them better was great.
The first half of this book was a lovely love story. And the second half was an emotional roller coaster that was equally as beautiful as the first half.
And the ending! I loved it, not what I was expecting but it was great.
I am still reeling from everything hours after finishing.
A new favorite series of mine.
Such a great ending to an incredible story. I loved this book from start to finish just like Once Upon A Demons Heart.
The story of Alira and Kalel is one for the books.
I loved that we got more Kalel perspective in this book. Seeing into both of their minds and understanding them better was great.
The first half of this book was a lovely love story. And the second half was an emotional roller coaster that was equally as beautiful as the first half.
And the ending! I loved it, not what I was expecting but it was great.
I am still reeling from everything hours after finishing.
A new favorite series of mine.
July 27, 2026
I have been impatiently waiting for this book to be released, so I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to ARC read it. I missed Kalel and Alira so much and couldn’t wait to jump back in where the first book left off.
I will say, I wish I had done a reread of book one beforehand, and I definitely recommend doing that if it’s been a while. I realized I’d forgotten more details than I expected, and a refresher would have made this book even more satisfying.
This book felt much more plot-driven, which I really enjoyed. The pacing kept me engaged from beginning to end, and the story continued to expand the world in exciting ways. Very happy with this beautiful duet.
I will say, I wish I had done a reread of book one beforehand, and I definitely recommend doing that if it’s been a while. I realized I’d forgotten more details than I expected, and a refresher would have made this book even more satisfying.
This book felt much more plot-driven, which I really enjoyed. The pacing kept me engaged from beginning to end, and the story continued to expand the world in exciting ways. Very happy with this beautiful duet.
July 26, 2026
Thanks sourcebooks for this NetGalley ARC! Overall this was cute, quick read that unfortunately didn’t need to be a duology in my opinion. I’m not a fan of the miscommunication trope which seems to be at play a lot throughout this book. It felt a little dragged out which is why I feel like this all could’ve been settled in one book. I did predict the ending, but it was a nice sweet conclusion to this series.
July 26, 2026
“Can hearts break even after they’ve been broken?”.
Omg, my heart. I think I went through every single emotion possible. Absolutely ugly cried at 70%. This was the perfect ending to Alira & Kalel’s story. A story of tragedy and love, This had a great amount of action, suspense, spice, and tear jerking moments. Was not expecting the last 10% whatsoever, but I ended up loving it.
Omg, my heart. I think I went through every single emotion possible. Absolutely ugly cried at 70%. This was the perfect ending to Alira & Kalel’s story. A story of tragedy and love, This had a great amount of action, suspense, spice, and tear jerking moments. Was not expecting the last 10% whatsoever, but I ended up loving it.
August 4, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
I am a big fan of the first book in this duet (once upon a demons heart). Was it anything different? Not really but I enjoyed it nonetheless. This book however… I was a bit disappointed. The MMC acted like a different character? And the FMC bugged me. The first half was her being like “I love him, but I can’t trust him” And he was like “I’m keeping this terrible secret from her… I should tell her…. But I can’t”. It was just repetitive. The last half was much better though!
Will I still recommended this duet? I think so! If you’re looking for a short, spicy book with a morally grey MMC then check it out!
What to expect:
✨Duology
✨Spicy
✨Knotting
✨Morally grey MMC
✨Demigods and demons
✨Easy read
Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
I am a big fan of the first book in this duet (once upon a demons heart). Was it anything different? Not really but I enjoyed it nonetheless. This book however… I was a bit disappointed. The MMC acted like a different character? And the FMC bugged me. The first half was her being like “I love him, but I can’t trust him” And he was like “I’m keeping this terrible secret from her… I should tell her…. But I can’t”. It was just repetitive. The last half was much better though!
Will I still recommended this duet? I think so! If you’re looking for a short, spicy book with a morally grey MMC then check it out!
What to expect:
✨Duology
✨Spicy
✨Knotting
✨Morally grey MMC
✨Demigods and demons
✨Easy read
Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC!
Want to Read
July 29, 2026SOCORRO, EU PRECISO DESSE LIVRO
July 29, 2026
This was so badly written - I tried to trust the story but I gave up at 40% in.
July 26, 2026
I received an eARC from Sourcebooks/Bloom Books via NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
- 📖 book 2 of 2
- ✌️dual POV
- 🪢 knotting
- 🤬rage
- 🤝forgiveness
- 🖤lovers to enemies to lovers
- ❌Medeling gods & fates
- 🐲demigods, demons, & dragons
- ❤️HEA
If you enjoyed the first book, this finale delivers a satisfying conclusion! You will really enjoy it! Do a re-read or listen to prepare for this. So many details from book one are needed to be remembered for this book.
This was a quick read, and I really appreciated it being shorter after just having finished several longer books. Even though it was short, it never felt rushed in the storytelling. The beginning was a little slower, but I think that was intentional because the author chose to show rather than tell. I was impressed that this book could get to the point, still develop the characters, and rely on showing instead of exposition.
The epilogue from book one immediately answered questions I had about the MFC, which hooked me right back into the story. I loved getting those answers right away instead of waiting for the mystery of the MFC to slowly unravel. Because of the epilogue and the information revealed, I knew more than the MC’s, making the reading journey unique and much different from book one.
I also appreciated how differently this book handled betrayal compared to most romantasy books. Typically, one character stumbles across a shocking secret at the end of book one that they never saw coming. Instead, the ending of book one in this duology showed us that the MMC was betraying the MFC, but she didn’t know yet. This book started by showing us that the MFC would eventually uncover the betrayal and how she pieced everything together over time. It made her discovery feel much more nuanced. At the same time, the MFC wasn't innocent either, she had her own secrets and understood what it meant to hide difficult truths.
One of my favorite parts of the story was watching the MFC rediscover who she really was. She had spent so much time trying to become a "proper" woman to please others (demons), burying the woman she truly was. She had been suffocating herself because of guilt over her past, and it was satisfying to watch her embrace her strength again and stand up for herself and her beliefs.
As for the MMC...I wanted to shake him just as much as all of his friends did. They repeatedly told him to just tell the MFC the truth, yet he remained unbelievably stubborn. Even so, I loved seeing his vulnerability. Watching him tear up while talking about how deeply he loved the MFC added so much emotional depth to his character. He eventually grew and changed, which was so satisfying!
The relationship between these two was incredibly layered. Yes, there was plenty of rage and violence during the enemies portion of the story, but before and after they were enemies there were several sweet and/or playful moments between them that made me smile. Their little jokes and quiet moments of connection were adorable, and once they finally started communicating honestly, their relationship became even stronger. I loved that both characters acknowledged their own flaws, extended forgiveness to one another, and ultimately chose love despite everything they had done.
One of the most beautiful aspects of this book was its underlying message that, at the end of the day, we're all more alike than different. Fighting one another out of fear and prejudice only creates more pain, while most people simply want peace and to live with the people they love. I thought that message was woven into the story beautifully without ever feeling preachy.
The ending was absolutely wonderful. The sacrifice made by a demigod and a demon in love to finally bring peace between their people was incredibly poetic and deeply moving. It was such a fitting conclusion to the themes of forgiveness, sacrifice, and hope that had been building throughout the story.
This was an excellent finale to the duology and a heartwarming ending for characters I truly came to love.
Despite overall enjoying this journey, it didn’t bring the same emotional experience as book one. Book one had more mystery, tension, and anticipation. Although all these things were present in this current book, there was so much more in book one. I rated book one 5 stars; therefore, this was a delightful 4 stars.
- 📖 book 2 of 2
- ✌️dual POV
- 🪢 knotting
- 🤬rage
- 🤝forgiveness
- 🖤lovers to enemies to lovers
- ❌Medeling gods & fates
- 🐲demigods, demons, & dragons
- ❤️HEA
If you enjoyed the first book, this finale delivers a satisfying conclusion! You will really enjoy it! Do a re-read or listen to prepare for this. So many details from book one are needed to be remembered for this book.
This was a quick read, and I really appreciated it being shorter after just having finished several longer books. Even though it was short, it never felt rushed in the storytelling. The beginning was a little slower, but I think that was intentional because the author chose to show rather than tell. I was impressed that this book could get to the point, still develop the characters, and rely on showing instead of exposition.
The epilogue from book one immediately answered questions I had about the MFC, which hooked me right back into the story. I loved getting those answers right away instead of waiting for the mystery of the MFC to slowly unravel. Because of the epilogue and the information revealed, I knew more than the MC’s, making the reading journey unique and much different from book one.
I also appreciated how differently this book handled betrayal compared to most romantasy books. Typically, one character stumbles across a shocking secret at the end of book one that they never saw coming. Instead, the ending of book one in this duology showed us that the MMC was betraying the MFC, but she didn’t know yet. This book started by showing us that the MFC would eventually uncover the betrayal and how she pieced everything together over time. It made her discovery feel much more nuanced. At the same time, the MFC wasn't innocent either, she had her own secrets and understood what it meant to hide difficult truths.
One of my favorite parts of the story was watching the MFC rediscover who she really was. She had spent so much time trying to become a "proper" woman to please others (demons), burying the woman she truly was. She had been suffocating herself because of guilt over her past, and it was satisfying to watch her embrace her strength again and stand up for herself and her beliefs.
As for the MMC...I wanted to shake him just as much as all of his friends did. They repeatedly told him to just tell the MFC the truth, yet he remained unbelievably stubborn. Even so, I loved seeing his vulnerability. Watching him tear up while talking about how deeply he loved the MFC added so much emotional depth to his character. He eventually grew and changed, which was so satisfying!
The relationship between these two was incredibly layered. Yes, there was plenty of rage and violence during the enemies portion of the story, but before and after they were enemies there were several sweet and/or playful moments between them that made me smile. Their little jokes and quiet moments of connection were adorable, and once they finally started communicating honestly, their relationship became even stronger. I loved that both characters acknowledged their own flaws, extended forgiveness to one another, and ultimately chose love despite everything they had done.
One of the most beautiful aspects of this book was its underlying message that, at the end of the day, we're all more alike than different. Fighting one another out of fear and prejudice only creates more pain, while most people simply want peace and to live with the people they love. I thought that message was woven into the story beautifully without ever feeling preachy.
The ending was absolutely wonderful. The sacrifice made by a demigod and a demon in love to finally bring peace between their people was incredibly poetic and deeply moving. It was such a fitting conclusion to the themes of forgiveness, sacrifice, and hope that had been building throughout the story.
This was an excellent finale to the duology and a heartwarming ending for characters I truly came to love.
Despite overall enjoying this journey, it didn’t bring the same emotional experience as book one. Book one had more mystery, tension, and anticipation. Although all these things were present in this current book, there was so much more in book one. I rated book one 5 stars; therefore, this was a delightful 4 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m sorry, but how am I supposed to just continue my day after finishing this book? I just spent all this time living, suffering, fighting and emotionally spiraling with Alira and Kalel and now it’s over?! Someone please tell me what I’m supposed to do with myself because “moving on” is not part of my reading plan.
This was the kind of sequel where I opened the book thinking “Okay, I’m ready” and then immediately remembered that this series does not believe in letting anyone have peace. Not the characters, not the readers, not my poor little heart.
Getting Alira and Kalel’s story from both perspectives was such a treat. I loved being able to understand their thoughts and emotions more deeply because these two are walking disasters when it comes to communication. Beautiful, powerful, meant to be together disasters… but disasters.
Alira continues to be such a strong character because even after everything she faces, she refuses to lose her kindness. She has every reason to become cold and bitter, but she keeps choosing compassion and hope. I loved that her heart stayed true to who she was.
And then we have Kalel. My bloody demon Duke who somehow manages to make me frustrated, emotional and completely invested all at the same time. This book shows more of the person behind the fearsome reputation and I loved seeing those layers come through. He’s still protective and intense, but there’s also so much pain, guilt and love hidden underneath everything.
Their relationship is what kept me glued to the pages. I love a good enemies to lovers story, but enemies to lovers to enemies again because of secrets and betrayal? Oh, I ate that up. The emotional chaos was absolutely my favorite kind of suffering. Apparently I enjoy watching fictional couples hurt my feelings before giving me what I want.
The mythology and world building were also highlights for me. The gods, the Fates, the kingdoms and the constant feeling that something bigger was happening created such an interesting atmosphere. There was always this tension in the background, like peace was something these characters had to fight for just as much as they fought any enemy.
I will admit that there were moments where the pacing felt a little slower for me compared to the first book. I also found myself wishing some emotional moments had more time to fully develop. There were a few things where I wanted more groveling, more conversations, more “you need to earn this forgiveness” energy because listen… I love my characters, but sometimes I also need them to suffer a tiny bit before I forgive them.
That being said, I appreciate that the story didn’t drag things out forever just to create extra drama. It gave Alira and Kalel the ending their journey deserved and that mattered more than unnecessary heartbreak.
The ending honestly gave me the biggest sigh of relief. After everything these characters endured, I needed that feeling of closure. The final chapters had my emotions everywhere and the epilogue gave me that warm, peaceful feeling of seeing a story finally come full circle. I closed my ebook with a smile, a little sadness and the very real thought of “wait… that’s it? I’m not ready to leave yet.”
I can’t believe this story is over. I’m going to miss Alira, Kalel, the chaos, the impossible choices and this beautifully dramatic world that kept me emotionally attached from beginning to end. This series gave me fantasy, romance, heartbreak, hope and enough emotional damage to last a while.
Final Thoughts: If you love complicated love stories, powerful heroines, morally gray characters, mythology and couples who make you want to scream “PLEASE JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER” this duet is absolutely worth picking up.
Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for giving me the opportunity to read Once Written in Gilded Blood before its release day through NetGalley. I loved getting to experience this story early and return to Alira and Kalel’s world. Reading this second book felt like coming back to characters I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to and I loved every emotional, chaotic, beautiful moment of it.
📅 Release day: August 18, 2025
This was the kind of sequel where I opened the book thinking “Okay, I’m ready” and then immediately remembered that this series does not believe in letting anyone have peace. Not the characters, not the readers, not my poor little heart.
Getting Alira and Kalel’s story from both perspectives was such a treat. I loved being able to understand their thoughts and emotions more deeply because these two are walking disasters when it comes to communication. Beautiful, powerful, meant to be together disasters… but disasters.
Alira continues to be such a strong character because even after everything she faces, she refuses to lose her kindness. She has every reason to become cold and bitter, but she keeps choosing compassion and hope. I loved that her heart stayed true to who she was.
And then we have Kalel. My bloody demon Duke who somehow manages to make me frustrated, emotional and completely invested all at the same time. This book shows more of the person behind the fearsome reputation and I loved seeing those layers come through. He’s still protective and intense, but there’s also so much pain, guilt and love hidden underneath everything.
Their relationship is what kept me glued to the pages. I love a good enemies to lovers story, but enemies to lovers to enemies again because of secrets and betrayal? Oh, I ate that up. The emotional chaos was absolutely my favorite kind of suffering. Apparently I enjoy watching fictional couples hurt my feelings before giving me what I want.
The mythology and world building were also highlights for me. The gods, the Fates, the kingdoms and the constant feeling that something bigger was happening created such an interesting atmosphere. There was always this tension in the background, like peace was something these characters had to fight for just as much as they fought any enemy.
I will admit that there were moments where the pacing felt a little slower for me compared to the first book. I also found myself wishing some emotional moments had more time to fully develop. There were a few things where I wanted more groveling, more conversations, more “you need to earn this forgiveness” energy because listen… I love my characters, but sometimes I also need them to suffer a tiny bit before I forgive them.
That being said, I appreciate that the story didn’t drag things out forever just to create extra drama. It gave Alira and Kalel the ending their journey deserved and that mattered more than unnecessary heartbreak.
The ending honestly gave me the biggest sigh of relief. After everything these characters endured, I needed that feeling of closure. The final chapters had my emotions everywhere and the epilogue gave me that warm, peaceful feeling of seeing a story finally come full circle. I closed my ebook with a smile, a little sadness and the very real thought of “wait… that’s it? I’m not ready to leave yet.”
I can’t believe this story is over. I’m going to miss Alira, Kalel, the chaos, the impossible choices and this beautifully dramatic world that kept me emotionally attached from beginning to end. This series gave me fantasy, romance, heartbreak, hope and enough emotional damage to last a while.
Final Thoughts: If you love complicated love stories, powerful heroines, morally gray characters, mythology and couples who make you want to scream “PLEASE JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER” this duet is absolutely worth picking up.
Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for giving me the opportunity to read Once Written in Gilded Blood before its release day through NetGalley. I loved getting to experience this story early and return to Alira and Kalel’s world. Reading this second book felt like coming back to characters I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to and I loved every emotional, chaotic, beautiful moment of it.
📅 Release day: August 18, 2025
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
'He is mine and I'm his. If we end in fire, then let it be together.'
Some love stories are soft. This one is sharpened into a blade.
Returning to Alira and Kalel felt like willingly reopening a wound that never truly healed, they are not characters searching for a happily ever after but two immortal souls carrying years of grief, duty, guilt, and impossible expectations. With every choice they make, stained by sacrifice, and every moment of happiness feels borrowed from a world that has never been kind to them.
Alira continues to be someone whose heart refuses to harden, despite being raised to serve powers that have treated her more like a weapon than a person. There is something beautiful about her purity that survives everything thrown at her, even when she frustrated me with moments of innocence, I could understand why she clung to hope. Hope is all she has ever truly owned.
Then there is Kalel.
The feared Blood Knight is no longer simply the intimidating force from the first book. Here we see the weight of everything he has endured pressing against him. While I personally missed some of the harder edges that made him so captivating before, watching his walls crumble revealed a different kind of strength and beneath all the bloodshed and reputation is someone desperate to protect the one person who finally gives his existence meaning. He felt more vulnerable, more emotionally exposed, and although it surprised me, it made many of his quieter moments incredibly bittersweet.
Their relationship remains the heartbeat of this story and watching mistrust slowly transform into unwavering devotion never stopped pulling at my emotions. Their love is not perfect, easy, or glamorous. It is forged through pain, forgiveness, impossible choices, and the willingness to stand beside each other even when the entire world demands otherwise. When they finally allow themselves moments of peace, laughter, or tenderness, those scenes shine because you know exactly what they have survived to earn them.
This story constantly reminds you that love can be both salvation and suffering and every time I thought they might finally catch a break, another wave of heartbreak crashed over them.
Apparently emotional stability was never invited to this kingdom.
The world itself continues to feel rich with political tension, divine manipulation, and the constant threat of war. There is always the sense that something much larger is moving behind the scenes, and that no matter how hard these characters fight for peace, someone will always ask for more blood. It gives every emotional moment an underlying tension because happiness never feels guaranteed.
I will admit that I connected more deeply with the writing in the first book. There were sections here that felt slower and lingered a little too long, almost like they were filling the space between the emotional highs instead of adding to them. Those moments softened the impact that the first book delivered so effortlessly. I kept waiting for certain scenes to completely wreck me, but they never quite reached the same emotional intensity.
Even so, what continues to make this series special is its heart. Not because it avoids darkness, but because it refuses to let darkness have the final word. It explores what happens when two people who have been shaped by violence choose love anyway. When they keep choosing each other despite every scar, every loss, and every reason to walk away.
This book left me emotionally exhausted in the best way. It reminded me that sometimes the strongest warriors are not the ones who never break. They are the ones who keep loving after they already have.
And honestly, that hurts far more than any battlefield ever could.
Some love stories are soft. This one is sharpened into a blade.
Returning to Alira and Kalel felt like willingly reopening a wound that never truly healed, they are not characters searching for a happily ever after but two immortal souls carrying years of grief, duty, guilt, and impossible expectations. With every choice they make, stained by sacrifice, and every moment of happiness feels borrowed from a world that has never been kind to them.
Alira continues to be someone whose heart refuses to harden, despite being raised to serve powers that have treated her more like a weapon than a person. There is something beautiful about her purity that survives everything thrown at her, even when she frustrated me with moments of innocence, I could understand why she clung to hope. Hope is all she has ever truly owned.
Then there is Kalel.
The feared Blood Knight is no longer simply the intimidating force from the first book. Here we see the weight of everything he has endured pressing against him. While I personally missed some of the harder edges that made him so captivating before, watching his walls crumble revealed a different kind of strength and beneath all the bloodshed and reputation is someone desperate to protect the one person who finally gives his existence meaning. He felt more vulnerable, more emotionally exposed, and although it surprised me, it made many of his quieter moments incredibly bittersweet.
Their relationship remains the heartbeat of this story and watching mistrust slowly transform into unwavering devotion never stopped pulling at my emotions. Their love is not perfect, easy, or glamorous. It is forged through pain, forgiveness, impossible choices, and the willingness to stand beside each other even when the entire world demands otherwise. When they finally allow themselves moments of peace, laughter, or tenderness, those scenes shine because you know exactly what they have survived to earn them.
This story constantly reminds you that love can be both salvation and suffering and every time I thought they might finally catch a break, another wave of heartbreak crashed over them.
Apparently emotional stability was never invited to this kingdom.
The world itself continues to feel rich with political tension, divine manipulation, and the constant threat of war. There is always the sense that something much larger is moving behind the scenes, and that no matter how hard these characters fight for peace, someone will always ask for more blood. It gives every emotional moment an underlying tension because happiness never feels guaranteed.
I will admit that I connected more deeply with the writing in the first book. There were sections here that felt slower and lingered a little too long, almost like they were filling the space between the emotional highs instead of adding to them. Those moments softened the impact that the first book delivered so effortlessly. I kept waiting for certain scenes to completely wreck me, but they never quite reached the same emotional intensity.
Even so, what continues to make this series special is its heart. Not because it avoids darkness, but because it refuses to let darkness have the final word. It explores what happens when two people who have been shaped by violence choose love anyway. When they keep choosing each other despite every scar, every loss, and every reason to walk away.
This book left me emotionally exhausted in the best way. It reminded me that sometimes the strongest warriors are not the ones who never break. They are the ones who keep loving after they already have.
And honestly, that hurts far more than any battlefield ever could.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5⭐
3🌶️
I absolutely loved Once Upon a Demon’s Heart. Which made Once Written in Gilded Blood one of my most anticipated releases of this year.
I was beyond excited when I was able to snatch an eARC via Netgalley. But I’m a bit disappointed. And a little conflicted about how I feel about the book.
First of: I still love K.M. Moronova’s writing style. I flew through the story and didn’t want to stop reading because she has this way of writing emotions and wrapping up chapters to keep you turning the pages. I did highlight a lot of quotes because her writing is so beautiful and emotional.
But it fell a little flat for me. Alira and Kalel were shadows of who they were in book 1. The once brutal Blood Knight spent at least half the book crying and Alira kept moping about not trusting him but forgiving him for all his sins in mere seconds. Or so it seemed.
"𝐼𝓉'𝓈 𝑒𝒶𝓈𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓃𝑜 𝓂𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝑒𝓃𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶 𝒸𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝒾𝓈, 𝒾𝓉 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝒾𝓉𝑒."
I wanted so much more from them. Everything felt so rushed. Was she on a deadline? Did she just want to conclude this duology to focus on her dark military romances? Like, what happened??
Every hurdle they face, together or alone, was over in a few pages. It all seemed to go too easy. They went on plot paths that seemed to have no reason? Or at least no explanation. Or maybe I just missed something important whilst reading. I still have so many questions.
"𝒞𝒶𝓃 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 𝒷𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓀 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎'𝓋𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓀𝑒𝓃?"
We finally discover more about Mortem and I really love the world she created here. But the role of the Gods is still a bit vague for me.
I finished the book and was left staring at the wall. Not in a “wow, what was that ending?!” kinda way but more like a “Heh?” way. And I’m really bummed that I feel like that. Because I wanted to love it so so much.
And here’s where my conflicting feelings begin because I still think the book had a beautiful story in it. The ending was beautiful and heartbreaking. The love Alira and Kalel have for each other was so pure. And their more vulnerable state in this book did show a different side to them both. Alira’s heart never hardens, despite all she’s been through. And Kalel truly becomes a protector of the one who actually sees him.
"𝐼 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝑒𝓍𝒾𝓈𝓉 𝒾𝓃 𝒶 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹 𝒾𝓃 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝒸𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒶 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝑜𝒻."
Their relationship is the focus of the story and it makes this conclusion to the duology more about heart than anything else I think. The moral of the story is incredibly beautiful so I still think you should read it if you loved Once Upon a Demon’s Heart.
3🌶️
I absolutely loved Once Upon a Demon’s Heart. Which made Once Written in Gilded Blood one of my most anticipated releases of this year.
I was beyond excited when I was able to snatch an eARC via Netgalley. But I’m a bit disappointed. And a little conflicted about how I feel about the book.
First of: I still love K.M. Moronova’s writing style. I flew through the story and didn’t want to stop reading because she has this way of writing emotions and wrapping up chapters to keep you turning the pages. I did highlight a lot of quotes because her writing is so beautiful and emotional.
But it fell a little flat for me. Alira and Kalel were shadows of who they were in book 1. The once brutal Blood Knight spent at least half the book crying and Alira kept moping about not trusting him but forgiving him for all his sins in mere seconds. Or so it seemed.
"𝐼𝓉'𝓈 𝑒𝒶𝓈𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓃𝑜 𝓂𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝑒𝓃𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶 𝒸𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝒾𝓈, 𝒾𝓉 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝒾𝓉𝑒."
I wanted so much more from them. Everything felt so rushed. Was she on a deadline? Did she just want to conclude this duology to focus on her dark military romances? Like, what happened??
Every hurdle they face, together or alone, was over in a few pages. It all seemed to go too easy. They went on plot paths that seemed to have no reason? Or at least no explanation. Or maybe I just missed something important whilst reading. I still have so many questions.
"𝒞𝒶𝓃 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 𝒷𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓀 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎'𝓋𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓀𝑒𝓃?"
We finally discover more about Mortem and I really love the world she created here. But the role of the Gods is still a bit vague for me.
I finished the book and was left staring at the wall. Not in a “wow, what was that ending?!” kinda way but more like a “Heh?” way. And I’m really bummed that I feel like that. Because I wanted to love it so so much.
And here’s where my conflicting feelings begin because I still think the book had a beautiful story in it. The ending was beautiful and heartbreaking. The love Alira and Kalel have for each other was so pure. And their more vulnerable state in this book did show a different side to them both. Alira’s heart never hardens, despite all she’s been through. And Kalel truly becomes a protector of the one who actually sees him.
"𝐼 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝑒𝓍𝒾𝓈𝓉 𝒾𝓃 𝒶 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹 𝒾𝓃 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝒸𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒶 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝑜𝒻."
Their relationship is the focus of the story and it makes this conclusion to the duology more about heart than anything else I think. The moral of the story is incredibly beautiful so I still think you should read it if you loved Once Upon a Demon’s Heart.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Recieved an e-arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
2.5
While this conclusion definitely tied up some loose ends and everything truly came together as an epic fairytale, some part of me was left wanting. I enjoyed book one, but this sequel involved remembering so many key details that were so important to this plot that I had to try and remember everything, and I was a little confused here and there when new details were added on. This is a series that needs to be reread.
This was a quick read, and I enjoyed it! I loved seeing this conclusion and finding out how everything tied together. I think I read this in like 4 hours? The writing is simple, not so detailed oriented, but enough to get the facts straight and get the plot moving.
The world building was interesting to me, and I loved seeing Roman Mythos and dragons and demons all together in one story. The curses and magic system was so unique. I love Alira and Kalel, and really found myself enamored with their connection to one another.
I just feel like, while the love between these two characters was so admirable and integral to the plot, they seemed so different from the first book. Kalel especially is a whole different character. His personality shifted, and I just frankly wanted to smack him in this book. He's is constantly unsure of himself, and lies like he breathes but still just complains about his guilt over and over. I don't see the Blood Knight anymore. Alira I had less issues with, I liked how she actually got up and wasn't afraid to admit that something was off and trying to find her own solution. But I still think she could have been more active within her own story, instead of being pushed around.
I think that being limited to a duology is probably where my issues with this book come from. There's so much detail and world building, and I think having that third book would have allowed for some breathing room for both the characters and for the plot. The side characters practically dissapear. Many threads and questions were left unanswered, and the timeline seemed to be very fast paced with a sense of urgency to just get the plot over with.
Overall, I enjoyed this series and am glad to see it all conclude. The theme's of this story were so special to me, of love, forgiveness, acceptance of other's, etc. The ending was a little unconventional, but, honestly, I couldn't see it ending any other way.
2.5
While this conclusion definitely tied up some loose ends and everything truly came together as an epic fairytale, some part of me was left wanting. I enjoyed book one, but this sequel involved remembering so many key details that were so important to this plot that I had to try and remember everything, and I was a little confused here and there when new details were added on. This is a series that needs to be reread.
This was a quick read, and I enjoyed it! I loved seeing this conclusion and finding out how everything tied together. I think I read this in like 4 hours? The writing is simple, not so detailed oriented, but enough to get the facts straight and get the plot moving.
The world building was interesting to me, and I loved seeing Roman Mythos and dragons and demons all together in one story. The curses and magic system was so unique. I love Alira and Kalel, and really found myself enamored with their connection to one another.
I just feel like, while the love between these two characters was so admirable and integral to the plot, they seemed so different from the first book. Kalel especially is a whole different character. His personality shifted, and I just frankly wanted to smack him in this book. He's is constantly unsure of himself, and lies like he breathes but still just complains about his guilt over and over. I don't see the Blood Knight anymore. Alira I had less issues with, I liked how she actually got up and wasn't afraid to admit that something was off and trying to find her own solution. But I still think she could have been more active within her own story, instead of being pushed around.
I think that being limited to a duology is probably where my issues with this book come from. There's so much detail and world building, and I think having that third book would have allowed for some breathing room for both the characters and for the plot. The side characters practically dissapear. Many threads and questions were left unanswered, and the timeline seemed to be very fast paced with a sense of urgency to just get the plot over with.
Overall, I enjoyed this series and am glad to see it all conclude. The theme's of this story were so special to me, of love, forgiveness, acceptance of other's, etc. The ending was a little unconventional, but, honestly, I couldn't see it ending any other way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm so grateful that I was able to get one of the instant available e-arcs, and I really hoped I'd like this book more than the first, but I didn't.
This was almost a dnf for me right at chapter 1, and if you know me then you know I'm a big K.M. fan. So what happened at chapter 1, you ask? The most icky smut I've read in my life happened. I hated it, all of it. All the spice in this book was just a big nope due to there, again, being no chemistry between Alira and Kalel and also the poor choice of words, it just didn't work for me.
The relationship between Kalel and Alira seems to have progressed after book 1's cliffhanger, but in a way that felt very strange. Suddenly they are all lovey dovey despite all the betrayals and secrets, but we soon learn that they both still don't trust each other and are both stuck in their own guilt and mistakes of the past. It is honestly exhausting, because that continues throughout the ENTIRE book, and the book makes sure to repeat that every few pages. It was incredibly repetitive, the editors really dropped the ball there.
Alira is downright insufferable this time, while Kalel is absolutely not the blood knight anymore we met in book 1.
Again this book is full of too many fantasy tropes, which makes the story get seemingly off track the whole time. So much happens but none of it really feels relevant somehow.
The book also keeps contradicting itself. One chapter Alira feels trapped in Kalel's palace and claims it's no better than the time loop, the next she says she wouldn't change it for the world. They say they need to rush at one specific moment, then proceed to stall by going on sidequests. It makes no sense.
I do think the prologue was actually very interesting and good, and the reveal later on about the curse was also pretty fun! I also thought the ending with the statues was a very cool and good ending, not a typical HEA but it was something that absolutely worked for me. But then that also got ruined. Also: plotholes all around.
As always though the character art is so lovely and I think the book titles are super cool and creative/smart! But I can only give this read 2.5 stars, unfortunately.
This was almost a dnf for me right at chapter 1, and if you know me then you know I'm a big K.M. fan. So what happened at chapter 1, you ask? The most icky smut I've read in my life happened. I hated it, all of it. All the spice in this book was just a big nope due to there, again, being no chemistry between Alira and Kalel and also the poor choice of words, it just didn't work for me.
The relationship between Kalel and Alira seems to have progressed after book 1's cliffhanger, but in a way that felt very strange. Suddenly they are all lovey dovey despite all the betrayals and secrets, but we soon learn that they both still don't trust each other and are both stuck in their own guilt and mistakes of the past. It is honestly exhausting, because that continues throughout the ENTIRE book, and the book makes sure to repeat that every few pages. It was incredibly repetitive, the editors really dropped the ball there.
Alira is downright insufferable this time, while Kalel is absolutely not the blood knight anymore we met in book 1.
Again this book is full of too many fantasy tropes, which makes the story get seemingly off track the whole time. So much happens but none of it really feels relevant somehow.
The book also keeps contradicting itself. One chapter Alira feels trapped in Kalel's palace and claims it's no better than the time loop, the next she says she wouldn't change it for the world. They say they need to rush at one specific moment, then proceed to stall by going on sidequests. It makes no sense.
I do think the prologue was actually very interesting and good, and the reveal later on about the curse was also pretty fun! I also thought the ending with the statues was a very cool and good ending, not a typical HEA but it was something that absolutely worked for me. But then that also got ruined. Also: plotholes all around.
As always though the character art is so lovely and I think the book titles are super cool and creative/smart! But I can only give this read 2.5 stars, unfortunately.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and K.M. Moronova for the advanced reader copy
I was super excited for this sequel, especially after how much book one gave me with the yearning, the ache, and the ugly-beautiful way Kalel and Alira navigated their trauma. Book one had this darker edge to it that really worked for me. I actually really enjoyed the darkness that Kalel would bring and the possessiveness he had, because he was so protective of Alira while also denying himself, her, and his feelings. The tension was doing a lot of the work for me there, and I ate that shh all up. nom nom 😋
Jumping into book two, I was actually really surprised by how quickly the tone shifted. The story starts with Kalel being super loving with her, which is fine, but it felt very off center from where we last saw him emotionally. We had just left off with him having betrayed her in book one, and there was still so much possessiveness and tension around Nikolai and the king (I wanted more exploration here). So starting with this almost perfect, happy go lucky marriage and this domestic husband/wife life they were living in did not make sense to me.
This is not to say I am against the softness between main characters. I love seeing a morally grey MMC melt into butter for her when it feels earned but I really did miss a lot of the yearning and the work that I thought still needed to happen for us to reach that point. It felt like the emotions and the plot were just handed to us instead of letting us build the tension and have them work their way back to each other.
For me, book one really set me up for a different type of book two. I wanted more hunger. More tension. More of that push and pull before we landed in the domestication we see from them in the beginning. For a lot of the book, Kalel felt like this docile little puppy dog (who is oddly crying all the time-- is this the same guy?) and is so in love with her he can't help but continue to tiptoe around trying to keep her happy.
This one felt a little predictable for me. Overall, a decent conclusion to this duet, even if it did not take me where I thought it would. Take of this what you will.
I was super excited for this sequel, especially after how much book one gave me with the yearning, the ache, and the ugly-beautiful way Kalel and Alira navigated their trauma. Book one had this darker edge to it that really worked for me. I actually really enjoyed the darkness that Kalel would bring and the possessiveness he had, because he was so protective of Alira while also denying himself, her, and his feelings. The tension was doing a lot of the work for me there, and I ate that shh all up. nom nom 😋
Jumping into book two, I was actually really surprised by how quickly the tone shifted. The story starts with Kalel being super loving with her, which is fine, but it felt very off center from where we last saw him emotionally. We had just left off with him having betrayed her in book one, and there was still so much possessiveness and tension around Nikolai and the king (I wanted more exploration here). So starting with this almost perfect, happy go lucky marriage and this domestic husband/wife life they were living in did not make sense to me.
This is not to say I am against the softness between main characters. I love seeing a morally grey MMC melt into butter for her when it feels earned but I really did miss a lot of the yearning and the work that I thought still needed to happen for us to reach that point. It felt like the emotions and the plot were just handed to us instead of letting us build the tension and have them work their way back to each other.
For me, book one really set me up for a different type of book two. I wanted more hunger. More tension. More of that push and pull before we landed in the domestication we see from them in the beginning. For a lot of the book, Kalel felt like this docile little puppy dog (who is oddly crying all the time-- is this the same guy?) and is so in love with her he can't help but continue to tiptoe around trying to keep her happy.
This one felt a little predictable for me. Overall, a decent conclusion to this duet, even if it did not take me where I thought it would. Take of this what you will.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Back at it again with the “If Moronova writes it.. I’m reading(devouring) it.” And dare I say this duology is her best work yet? Absolutely yes, yes I do think that. (And I am a LOVER of her Dark Forces books.) I will try to keep my review as spoiler free and vague as possible because everyone deserves to have the same emotions for the first read through.
•
The way I went through every emotion reading this book. Happiness, anger, sadness. I screamed, I cried, I threw my kindle. I need to pull out the five step grief method after it to be honest.
•
Reading this book was quite like coming home to your favorite people after being gone for a long time(a whole year 😭). Alira and Kalel are some of my favorite characters across all books, even with their flaws. (Maybe that’s why I love them so much.)
This book picks up almost immediately after the first ends and we are whisked away into the happiness of their relationship, the war is over due to their arraigned marriage but it seems they have come to fall for each other even when it seems like the whole world is against them. Or is the war really over? With meddling gods, you never know what will happen next.
This book is packed with rage. On both sides, (yes this one is a dual POV!) we start to see distrust forming again. Deceit and lies start adding up.
But, Kalel does his fair share of groveling to Alira which, to be honest, was needed. He needed to see the consequences of his actions and apologize. This brought such depth to his character that was missing in the first book.
•
For fans of; arraigned marriage, enemies to lovers(and back again), forced proximity, swoonworthy romance, demons x demigods, betrayals and sacrifices for the greater good.. this is for youuuuuuu. Please watch the triggers for this duet, it’s delves into darkness mentally and has lots of spice (ie 🪢 type 🌶️)
•
•
*maybe spoilery*
•
•
•
It’s an HEA, in a sense that Alchemised is an HEA. It’s tragic, it’s beautiful, it’s everything we want in a book.
•
The way I went through every emotion reading this book. Happiness, anger, sadness. I screamed, I cried, I threw my kindle. I need to pull out the five step grief method after it to be honest.
•
Reading this book was quite like coming home to your favorite people after being gone for a long time(a whole year 😭). Alira and Kalel are some of my favorite characters across all books, even with their flaws. (Maybe that’s why I love them so much.)
This book picks up almost immediately after the first ends and we are whisked away into the happiness of their relationship, the war is over due to their arraigned marriage but it seems they have come to fall for each other even when it seems like the whole world is against them. Or is the war really over? With meddling gods, you never know what will happen next.
This book is packed with rage. On both sides, (yes this one is a dual POV!) we start to see distrust forming again. Deceit and lies start adding up.
But, Kalel does his fair share of groveling to Alira which, to be honest, was needed. He needed to see the consequences of his actions and apologize. This brought such depth to his character that was missing in the first book.
•
For fans of; arraigned marriage, enemies to lovers(and back again), forced proximity, swoonworthy romance, demons x demigods, betrayals and sacrifices for the greater good.. this is for youuuuuuu. Please watch the triggers for this duet, it’s delves into darkness mentally and has lots of spice (ie 🪢 type 🌶️)
•
•
*maybe spoilery*
•
•
•
It’s an HEA, in a sense that Alchemised is an HEA. It’s tragic, it’s beautiful, it’s everything we want in a book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2⭐️
2.5🌶️
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for an e-arc of this book.
This is honestly heartbreaking for me to give this the rating I am…
I was so excited for this release. Book 1 has been on my mind for a whole year. I was excited to see where this story and world went.
Unfortunately, the completion of this duet just fell flat for me ☹️
While longer than book 1, it felt like every plot point was rushed and there wasn’t any true growth of the characters at all. It was the same cycle of a new secret, the reveal, pissed off at each other, and then making up and in love within a page or 2. I’m all for not having characters at each other’s throats majority of a book but these 2 were just all over the place and not in a good way. It felt like Alira and Kalel were completely different characters this book than book 1. They lost all their edge.
Plot wise, you do have a general idea of the overall conflict happening for the plot but every obstacle is easily overcome and done so within a page or 2. We just jumped from thing to thing and didn’t feel like there was any true tension.
There is spice 🌶️ but we had the whole knotting and breeding kink going on book 1 and I wanted to dive even FARTHER into that intensity when it came to the spice and it just felt like it was spice for the sake of spice.
The ending was probably the biggest disappointment for me. It was just not satisfactory for me personally for the story and actually a bit sad.
I know the author has had some success with her recent dark military romances and it kind of just feels like because maybe she’s putting more focus into those, that this book got phoned on a bit on 🤷♀️
There was so much potential with this concept and in my opinion is just something that needed to be relooked at and expanded and what we got felt more like a bunch of plot ideas thrown together all at once with no depth truly added.
2.5🌶️
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for an e-arc of this book.
This is honestly heartbreaking for me to give this the rating I am…
I was so excited for this release. Book 1 has been on my mind for a whole year. I was excited to see where this story and world went.
Unfortunately, the completion of this duet just fell flat for me ☹️
While longer than book 1, it felt like every plot point was rushed and there wasn’t any true growth of the characters at all. It was the same cycle of a new secret, the reveal, pissed off at each other, and then making up and in love within a page or 2. I’m all for not having characters at each other’s throats majority of a book but these 2 were just all over the place and not in a good way. It felt like Alira and Kalel were completely different characters this book than book 1. They lost all their edge.
Plot wise, you do have a general idea of the overall conflict happening for the plot but every obstacle is easily overcome and done so within a page or 2. We just jumped from thing to thing and didn’t feel like there was any true tension.
There is spice 🌶️ but we had the whole knotting and breeding kink going on book 1 and I wanted to dive even FARTHER into that intensity when it came to the spice and it just felt like it was spice for the sake of spice.
The ending was probably the biggest disappointment for me. It was just not satisfactory for me personally for the story and actually a bit sad.
I know the author has had some success with her recent dark military romances and it kind of just feels like because maybe she’s putting more focus into those, that this book got phoned on a bit on 🤷♀️
There was so much potential with this concept and in my opinion is just something that needed to be relooked at and expanded and what we got felt more like a bunch of plot ideas thrown together all at once with no depth truly added.
July 27, 2026
I received this book as an ARC.
This is the second book in the Cruel Fates duology.
Initially starting this book, I loved where Alira and Kalel were in their relationship: happy, content, and romantic. What then followed after that for the next 60% of the book was a lot of miscommunication, keeping secrets, and mistrust. This part unfortunately felt very drawn out. I couldn't really understand why Kalel truly felt that keeping his secrets was the best course of action, especially considering how much he antagonized over it and how much it clearly affected his and Alira's relationship. I felt that Alira throughout this part seemed like a different person from the first book to an extent. It being hard to specifically pinpoint her behavior, but she seemed to just be a bit more naive and immature despite her history of being a competent, intelligent, warrior knight. I also felt that Tessa's behavior toward Alira was even a bit excessive, and despite 3 months of "peace", we are never really shown how Tessa can feel so strongly after all this time with her.
*Potential spoilery stuff ahead*
At about 62%, there is a turn of events, which I think helped move the story along. There is something about K.M. Moronova's writing that connects with me regardless of my criticism above, and I really felt the emotion state of Alira and Kalel at this point. The remainder (and majority) of this book is relationship driven, and while we do get a conclusion to the war, it takes a backseat to Kalel and Alira's love story. Without spoiling it too much, I think the ending could have gone multiple ways, but I'm satisfied with how their relationship was handled at the conclusion of the book.
*End spoiler*
If you read the first book, I would still definitely recommend this one. It's a fast read, has spicy moments, and doesn't leave you hanging.
This is the second book in the Cruel Fates duology.
Initially starting this book, I loved where Alira and Kalel were in their relationship: happy, content, and romantic. What then followed after that for the next 60% of the book was a lot of miscommunication, keeping secrets, and mistrust. This part unfortunately felt very drawn out. I couldn't really understand why Kalel truly felt that keeping his secrets was the best course of action, especially considering how much he antagonized over it and how much it clearly affected his and Alira's relationship. I felt that Alira throughout this part seemed like a different person from the first book to an extent. It being hard to specifically pinpoint her behavior, but she seemed to just be a bit more naive and immature despite her history of being a competent, intelligent, warrior knight. I also felt that Tessa's behavior toward Alira was even a bit excessive, and despite 3 months of "peace", we are never really shown how Tessa can feel so strongly after all this time with her.
*Potential spoilery stuff ahead*
At about 62%, there is a turn of events, which I think helped move the story along. There is something about K.M. Moronova's writing that connects with me regardless of my criticism above, and I really felt the emotion state of Alira and Kalel at this point. The remainder (and majority) of this book is relationship driven, and while we do get a conclusion to the war, it takes a backseat to Kalel and Alira's love story. Without spoiling it too much, I think the ending could have gone multiple ways, but I'm satisfied with how their relationship was handled at the conclusion of the book.
*End spoiler*
If you read the first book, I would still definitely recommend this one. It's a fast read, has spicy moments, and doesn't leave you hanging.
July 25, 2026
When we left off with book 1, the demigod kingdom is attempting to find the location of the demon kingdom, hidden beyond a veil. Alira and Kalel are newly married and beginning to fall in love, and there are tensions between Kalel and the demon king. We pick up a few months later, and Alira has settled in happily as a duchess. She spends her days in pretty dresses, looking at flowers, and gossiping with other society wives. Quite a departure for someone who’s always been a warrior. Of course, we have a new/continuing war on the horizon so that doesn’t last long.
Once Written in Gilded Blood is about secrets, bargains made with gods, and games the gods play with the demigods and demons. Each faction wars with the other out of hatred and lust for power. Alira and Kalel are caught up in the middle of these tweaked fates and have to find a way to make peace together, or die trying.
The world building is a blend of Roman gods that provide exposition and I appreciated that we got more insight into them in this second book of the series. The prose is very casual and modern which can be disconcerting for the fantasy world setting. There are multiple pieces of character art included at the beginning that are beautiful and reminiscent of the first book’s cover.
The story is very dramatic, almost soap opera vibes, which fits with the rest of the author’s catalog. So if you enjoyed her other books, chances are you’ll enjoy this one. It has the same tone, dramatics, and plot dynamics as Once Upon a Demon’s Heart. If spicy scenes are your jam, the story is basically plot point —> sexy bits —> plot point —> sexy bits. So there’s something for everyone there.
Thanks to KM Moronova, NetGalley, & Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the ARC!
Once Written in Gilded Blood is about secrets, bargains made with gods, and games the gods play with the demigods and demons. Each faction wars with the other out of hatred and lust for power. Alira and Kalel are caught up in the middle of these tweaked fates and have to find a way to make peace together, or die trying.
The world building is a blend of Roman gods that provide exposition and I appreciated that we got more insight into them in this second book of the series. The prose is very casual and modern which can be disconcerting for the fantasy world setting. There are multiple pieces of character art included at the beginning that are beautiful and reminiscent of the first book’s cover.
The story is very dramatic, almost soap opera vibes, which fits with the rest of the author’s catalog. So if you enjoyed her other books, chances are you’ll enjoy this one. It has the same tone, dramatics, and plot dynamics as Once Upon a Demon’s Heart. If spicy scenes are your jam, the story is basically plot point —> sexy bits —> plot point —> sexy bits. So there’s something for everyone there.
Thanks to KM Moronova, NetGalley, & Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the ARC!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews