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Wild Blood
A desperate fugitive, magic stolen. A broken legend, hollowed out by loss. The earth-shattering event that brings them together.
After five years of torture disguised as marriage, Gessa clawed her way to freedom. But sanctuary is not safety. Surrounded by recruits barely out of childhood, she is an outcast fighting to prove she isn't broken. She must master the wild magic ripping at her seams and silence the skepticism of the Academy, or lose the only chance she has to be truly free.
Instructor Ky lives in the wreckage of his legend, his failure carved into the scars on his leg and the silence in his soul. Once the realm’s greatest courier, he was shattered by a mission that killed his soul-bonded beast. Tasked with training her, he views Gessa as a terrifying echo of the recklessness that cost him everything.
When Gessa’s untamed power rips them from safety and dumps them in the lawless north, there is nowhere left to hide. Stripped of rank and rules, Ky becomes her only shield against the man hunting her, while Gessa becomes the spark that forces Ky to feel again. To survive, they must do the trust a partner with the power to break them.
An adult romance for fans of Slow Burn, Broken Heroes and Magical Beasts.
After five years of torture disguised as marriage, Gessa clawed her way to freedom. But sanctuary is not safety. Surrounded by recruits barely out of childhood, she is an outcast fighting to prove she isn't broken. She must master the wild magic ripping at her seams and silence the skepticism of the Academy, or lose the only chance she has to be truly free.
Instructor Ky lives in the wreckage of his legend, his failure carved into the scars on his leg and the silence in his soul. Once the realm’s greatest courier, he was shattered by a mission that killed his soul-bonded beast. Tasked with training her, he views Gessa as a terrifying echo of the recklessness that cost him everything.
When Gessa’s untamed power rips them from safety and dumps them in the lawless north, there is nowhere left to hide. Stripped of rank and rules, Ky becomes her only shield against the man hunting her, while Gessa becomes the spark that forces Ky to feel again. To survive, they must do the trust a partner with the power to break them.
An adult romance for fans of Slow Burn, Broken Heroes and Magical Beasts.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 22, 2026
19 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for an ARC in exchange for a review
The whole book has this constant feeling that something is about to go wrong. The writing's beautiful and descriptive, the kind where you can feel the tension and bad vibes in your bones. There's something so oppressive to it.
The whole book's claustrophobic and relentless. The depictions of domestic violence are unsettlingly real; they're not sensationalised or softened, just brutal in their reality. The book casually destroys you with lines like: “She wasn’t sick. She never had been. She was a creature of magic who had spent her entire life suffocating in a cage of iron.” and, if you needed your soul stomped on:“Why do you make me hurt you to save you?”
Cool, thank you, I'll be thinking about that forever.
Gessa is a fantastic character. She's strong, believable, and smart in a quiet, survival-brain, reading-the-room sort of way, and you can’t help but root for her because her intelligence feels earned and human, not plot-convenient. She feels realistic in a way that makes everything hurt more, because you genuinely believe in her and want better for her. Watching her endure and adapt through impossible situations made the emotional hits land even harder.
But, it's a shame the other characters weren’t as fleshed out. Polan is very much the Big Bad Evil Guy™, Ky is the hot guy with the tragic backstory, and Roric is the smirking asshole who looks down on our FMC but eventually gets put in his place. They work for the story, but the side cast definitely leans paint-by-numbers compared to how richly written Gessa is. If it weren't for the characters, I probably would have given 4 stars, but as it stands, knocking a star off for the one-dimensional side characters.
The Academy, however, is well written and seriously fascinating. It's not just a magic school backdrop, it's layered in a way that makes it feel like its own character. The rules feel arbitrary but intentional and there’s this constant sense that the institution itself is exerting pressure on everyone inside it. The Academy isn’t loud about its cruelty; it’s subtle and systemic, to the point that it's normalised. It feels like a machine designed to break people down while insisting it’s for their own good, and that tension seeps into every scene set there. Honestly one of the strongest parts of the book.
The whole book has this constant feeling that something is about to go wrong. The writing's beautiful and descriptive, the kind where you can feel the tension and bad vibes in your bones. There's something so oppressive to it.
“…the immediate panic set into a grim endurance. The air of the domain pressed against her, dense and silent. It was a tangible weight, a cold, suffocating pressure…”
The whole book's claustrophobic and relentless. The depictions of domestic violence are unsettlingly real; they're not sensationalised or softened, just brutal in their reality. The book casually destroys you with lines like: “She wasn’t sick. She never had been. She was a creature of magic who had spent her entire life suffocating in a cage of iron.” and, if you needed your soul stomped on:“Why do you make me hurt you to save you?”
Cool, thank you, I'll be thinking about that forever.
Gessa is a fantastic character. She's strong, believable, and smart in a quiet, survival-brain, reading-the-room sort of way, and you can’t help but root for her because her intelligence feels earned and human, not plot-convenient. She feels realistic in a way that makes everything hurt more, because you genuinely believe in her and want better for her. Watching her endure and adapt through impossible situations made the emotional hits land even harder.
But, it's a shame the other characters weren’t as fleshed out. Polan is very much the Big Bad Evil Guy™, Ky is the hot guy with the tragic backstory, and Roric is the smirking asshole who looks down on our FMC but eventually gets put in his place. They work for the story, but the side cast definitely leans paint-by-numbers compared to how richly written Gessa is. If it weren't for the characters, I probably would have given 4 stars, but as it stands, knocking a star off for the one-dimensional side characters.
The Academy, however, is well written and seriously fascinating. It's not just a magic school backdrop, it's layered in a way that makes it feel like its own character. The rules feel arbitrary but intentional and there’s this constant sense that the institution itself is exerting pressure on everyone inside it. The Academy isn’t loud about its cruelty; it’s subtle and systemic, to the point that it's normalised. It feels like a machine designed to break people down while insisting it’s for their own good, and that tension seeps into every scene set there. Honestly one of the strongest parts of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"You’re a persistent snail, aren’t you? Still crawling forward when others have long since been salted and eaten."
— Jaedon.
💚 A DV survivor FMC with rare magic
💚 A scarred, disabled MMC
💚 Did I mention that he’s her instructor?!
💚 Third person multi POV
💚 She saved herself (with some help!)
💚 Animal companions
💚 Standalone
The Golden Compass met Severus Snape in Wild Blood!
Meet Gessa, our FMC, and follow her as she runs from her trash worse than shit husband, who not only trapped her but suppressed her magic for years. The road wasn’t easy. The stakes were higher than my will to study. It was risky, tiring, and messy. And then, welcome to Iron Spurs Academy! Enter Ky: a grumpy, scarred instructor. He sees Gessa as unstable and dangerous and wants her gone. But as they spend more time together and their traumas are laid bare, who could blame them when the line between instructor and student starts blurring?
A DV survivor FMC? A chosen one woman in a male oriented academy? A psycho husband who treats his wife like property? Yikes on a bike 😬 Months ago, I wouldn’t even touch a book like this! It sounds like a recipe for a headache. I’d rather read about a woman serial killer than a woman under a man’s thumb. I just know it would stress me tf out that I’d probably end up drinking my coffee with extra sugar ☺️ But this year, I decided to expand my reading. It started with a sex worker FMC, and then came characters like Gessa.
And ... It was beautiful 🥺
That’s literally the first word that came to mind when I closed the book 😭 I love, love Gessa so much!! I was afraid she’d be too much of a damsel for me, that her development would be too slow, or worse, fueled by men ewww 🥴 But the author, bless her, and may her pillows always be cold said, "well, she is in distress, but she isn’t saved by a man.” THAT. That sums up Gessa’s journey 👌
Gessa is written with so much care: gentle and brave. Not my usual snarky, badass ladies from my favorite books. She’s vulnerable, she understands fear, but she’s never helpless. She gets up again and again, even after life tries to take her down.
And Ky??? I’ll admit, I wasn’t a fan at first. I was even ready to hate him because he almost felt like Husband 2.0 lite version. But it doesn’t take long for him to truly understand Gessa. As someone with deep trauma of his own, he sees her clearly and becomes her protector in such a sweet, heartbreaking way. Two broken people healing each other, what’s more lovely than that? 😩 Bonus points because Ky’s trauma isn’t related to women! For those who loathe OW drama, yeahhh, you’re welcome here 😉
Turns out I don’t hate the protective men trope, I just hate the possessive side of it, especially when they start making decisions for their woman, bleeeh 🤢
Ky NEVER does that. Even when he’s jealous, he handles it in a mature way, without the need to say, "she’s mine, don’t you dare touch her 😡" and then growl like a typical shadow daddy with a sore throat. His disability also becomes an important part of the plot, not just a decorative checkmark on a trope list. He doesn’t try to force readers to sympathize with him, bcs his suffering already feels real and grounded. I’m SOOO happy to find a book that shows the struggle of disability without excessive self pity or magical cures 😭
The instructor/student relationship is often tricky territory, but what Gessa and Ky have works perfectly. He doesn’t act cocky despite his position. She notices his attractiveness, but she’s not immediately lusting after him like some horny teenager. And since Gessa is 30 years old, it doesn’t feel creepy at all! It’s just ... Beautiful. Pardon the repetition, but there are no other words 😭 I dare say this is the winner, the healthiest student x teacher relationships I’ve ever read!!
Ohhh and the smut???
There’s a tiny "teach me" moment, but overall, they’re just very, very sweet and tender. Jute Foster knows how to write intimacy with poetic, elegant prose so much so that she NEVER has to use the C words. Ever!! I found myself rereading their lovemaking scenes so many times because they’re just mwah mwah *chef’s kiss* 👩🍳💋 I may or may not have cried during one of those scenes near the end??? Sleeping together after a battle is cliche, yes yes, but I love this kind of cliche oh my gosssh 😭 PLEASE GIVE ME 500 PAGES OF THAT!
The concept of the Soul Beast is also really interesting! I said Golden Compass, but I think it works more like the Eragon/Saphira bond. I love Night, Ky's "pet". I wish my cats were more useful like him (but they’re just lazy assholes who only hunt bugs and bully me when I’m late serving their food). I wish we’d learned more about them! The Iron Spurs universe is too good to be packed into one book. Can we come back to it through Jaedon, please? I already love him. We need our ✨ blond ✨ sadistic master! I would let him teach me ... Some things 😏
I won’t talk too much about the villain here, but if that shithead had a resume, it’d be :
💩 CEO of Delusion
💩 Professional Gaslighter
💩 Olympic Gold Medalist in Manipulation
He stressed me out that I had to stop reading, take a deep breath, and mutter, whyyyy he hasn’t died yet??? BUT the way he ended was so satisfying. I love how Gessa and Ky work together to send that bastard to hell, and instead of magic, they use courage and will. And that, is romantic.
— Jaedon.
💚 A DV survivor FMC with rare magic
💚 A scarred, disabled MMC
💚 Did I mention that he’s her instructor?!
💚 Third person multi POV
💚 She saved herself (with some help!)
💚 Animal companions
💚 Standalone
The Golden Compass met Severus Snape in Wild Blood!
Meet Gessa, our FMC, and follow her as she runs from her trash worse than shit husband, who not only trapped her but suppressed her magic for years. The road wasn’t easy. The stakes were higher than my will to study. It was risky, tiring, and messy. And then, welcome to Iron Spurs Academy! Enter Ky: a grumpy, scarred instructor. He sees Gessa as unstable and dangerous and wants her gone. But as they spend more time together and their traumas are laid bare, who could blame them when the line between instructor and student starts blurring?
A DV survivor FMC? A chosen one woman in a male oriented academy? A psycho husband who treats his wife like property? Yikes on a bike 😬 Months ago, I wouldn’t even touch a book like this! It sounds like a recipe for a headache. I’d rather read about a woman serial killer than a woman under a man’s thumb. I just know it would stress me tf out that I’d probably end up drinking my coffee with extra sugar ☺️ But this year, I decided to expand my reading. It started with a sex worker FMC, and then came characters like Gessa.
And ... It was beautiful 🥺
That’s literally the first word that came to mind when I closed the book 😭 I love, love Gessa so much!! I was afraid she’d be too much of a damsel for me, that her development would be too slow, or worse, fueled by men ewww 🥴 But the author, bless her, and may her pillows always be cold said, "well, she is in distress, but she isn’t saved by a man.” THAT. That sums up Gessa’s journey 👌
Gessa is written with so much care: gentle and brave. Not my usual snarky, badass ladies from my favorite books. She’s vulnerable, she understands fear, but she’s never helpless. She gets up again and again, even after life tries to take her down.
And Ky??? I’ll admit, I wasn’t a fan at first. I was even ready to hate him because he almost felt like Husband 2.0 lite version. But it doesn’t take long for him to truly understand Gessa. As someone with deep trauma of his own, he sees her clearly and becomes her protector in such a sweet, heartbreaking way. Two broken people healing each other, what’s more lovely than that? 😩 Bonus points because Ky’s trauma isn’t related to women! For those who loathe OW drama, yeahhh, you’re welcome here 😉
Turns out I don’t hate the protective men trope, I just hate the possessive side of it, especially when they start making decisions for their woman, bleeeh 🤢
Ky NEVER does that. Even when he’s jealous, he handles it in a mature way, without the need to say, "she’s mine, don’t you dare touch her 😡" and then growl like a typical shadow daddy with a sore throat. His disability also becomes an important part of the plot, not just a decorative checkmark on a trope list. He doesn’t try to force readers to sympathize with him, bcs his suffering already feels real and grounded. I’m SOOO happy to find a book that shows the struggle of disability without excessive self pity or magical cures 😭
The instructor/student relationship is often tricky territory, but what Gessa and Ky have works perfectly. He doesn’t act cocky despite his position. She notices his attractiveness, but she’s not immediately lusting after him like some horny teenager. And since Gessa is 30 years old, it doesn’t feel creepy at all! It’s just ... Beautiful. Pardon the repetition, but there are no other words 😭 I dare say this is the winner, the healthiest student x teacher relationships I’ve ever read!!
Ohhh and the smut???
There’s a tiny "teach me" moment, but overall, they’re just very, very sweet and tender. Jute Foster knows how to write intimacy with poetic, elegant prose so much so that she NEVER has to use the C words. Ever!! I found myself rereading their lovemaking scenes so many times because they’re just mwah mwah *chef’s kiss* 👩🍳💋 I may or may not have cried during one of those scenes near the end??? Sleeping together after a battle is cliche, yes yes, but I love this kind of cliche oh my gosssh 😭 PLEASE GIVE ME 500 PAGES OF THAT!
The concept of the Soul Beast is also really interesting! I said Golden Compass, but I think it works more like the Eragon/Saphira bond. I love Night, Ky's "pet". I wish my cats were more useful like him (but they’re just lazy assholes who only hunt bugs and bully me when I’m late serving their food). I wish we’d learned more about them! The Iron Spurs universe is too good to be packed into one book. Can we come back to it through Jaedon, please? I already love him. We need our ✨ blond ✨ sadistic master! I would let him teach me ... Some things 😏
I won’t talk too much about the villain here, but if that shithead had a resume, it’d be :
💩 CEO of Delusion
💩 Professional Gaslighter
💩 Olympic Gold Medalist in Manipulation
He stressed me out that I had to stop reading, take a deep breath, and mutter, whyyyy he hasn’t died yet??? BUT the way he ended was so satisfying. I love how Gessa and Ky work together to send that bastard to hell, and instead of magic, they use courage and will. And that, is romantic.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨✨✨ARC REVIEW OF WILD BLOOD✨✨✨
I received an advanced copy of Wild Blood by the author. Thank you for giving me the opportunity!
Gessa has long endured the abuse of her power hungry husband - a rich, manipulative man from the upper echelons who wants to use Gessa to basically bring down the magical ruling class. When she finally flees from his clutches, she runs to the Academy that teaches them to harness their magic, and even though she is much older and in far less control of her previously forcefully contained magic, she is given a chance to train. There is political intrigue, forced Proximity, and a lot of super adorable magical creatures - and let's not forget the handsome, wounded MMC, Ky and his soul beast, a giant lynx named Night.
This is a standalone, romantic fantasy. The FMC is 30, so it's nice to see someone who isn't fresh out of their teenage years. KY is fiercely protective, but also makes sure that any steps they take while on their mission is completely up to Gessa to choose what she wants to do - something previously taken away from her by her husband. It was beautiful to see them overcome their pasts and grow together, to fall in love and heal.
I give this one 4/5 stars, as I love the characters and their depth and growth. KY is a perfect green flag book boyfriend and I love Gessa's inner strength despite what she has been forced to ensure. She is beautifully written - all of her fears and trauma.
Sometimes the pacing seemed a bit off, which is the only reason I gave it 4/5 stars. There is spice but its not super descriptive or graphic - that isn't a deal breaker for me. Their love story is beautiful, and their HEA is incredibly satisfying.
10/10 would recommend
4/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
1/5 🌶️
I received an advanced copy of Wild Blood by the author. Thank you for giving me the opportunity!
Gessa has long endured the abuse of her power hungry husband - a rich, manipulative man from the upper echelons who wants to use Gessa to basically bring down the magical ruling class. When she finally flees from his clutches, she runs to the Academy that teaches them to harness their magic, and even though she is much older and in far less control of her previously forcefully contained magic, she is given a chance to train. There is political intrigue, forced Proximity, and a lot of super adorable magical creatures - and let's not forget the handsome, wounded MMC, Ky and his soul beast, a giant lynx named Night.
This is a standalone, romantic fantasy. The FMC is 30, so it's nice to see someone who isn't fresh out of their teenage years. KY is fiercely protective, but also makes sure that any steps they take while on their mission is completely up to Gessa to choose what she wants to do - something previously taken away from her by her husband. It was beautiful to see them overcome their pasts and grow together, to fall in love and heal.
I give this one 4/5 stars, as I love the characters and their depth and growth. KY is a perfect green flag book boyfriend and I love Gessa's inner strength despite what she has been forced to ensure. She is beautifully written - all of her fears and trauma.
Sometimes the pacing seemed a bit off, which is the only reason I gave it 4/5 stars. There is spice but its not super descriptive or graphic - that isn't a deal breaker for me. Their love story is beautiful, and their HEA is incredibly satisfying.
10/10 would recommend
4/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
1/5 🌶️
February 1, 2026
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Please check your trigger warnings before going into this.
What a wild ride! I really enjoyed Ky and Gessa’s story. I loved the academy setting and I wish we could have seen more of it. The magic system in this was really cool too. And I loved the slow burn in this. The character development was also really good. The only thing that’s holding me back from a 5 star is that everything Gessa went through with Polan, I expected her to be more emotionally damaged for longer than she was. It takes more time to get over what she was put through. I’m not quite sure on the timeline of how many days this book took but for most people it can take months and months with a lot of therapy. But I do appreciate Ky being there for her. Overall I had a great reading experience and would definitely recommend. I read it so quickly!
Please check your trigger warnings before going into this.
What a wild ride! I really enjoyed Ky and Gessa’s story. I loved the academy setting and I wish we could have seen more of it. The magic system in this was really cool too. And I loved the slow burn in this. The character development was also really good. The only thing that’s holding me back from a 5 star is that everything Gessa went through with Polan, I expected her to be more emotionally damaged for longer than she was. It takes more time to get over what she was put through. I’m not quite sure on the timeline of how many days this book took but for most people it can take months and months with a lot of therapy. But I do appreciate Ky being there for her. Overall I had a great reading experience and would definitely recommend. I read it so quickly!
February 6, 2026
⚠️ Please check trigger warnings before reading - this book contains depictions of domestic violence.
Wild Blood is beautifully written and emotionally powerful. The storytelling pulls you in and takes you on a truly unforgettable journey alongside the FMC. Her growth, resilience, and healing are handled with so much care, and the found family element absolutely stole my heart.
The magic system is incredibly well thought out and clearly explained, which made the world feel rich and immersive without ever being confusing. The romance weaves in perfectly, adding depth and warmth to an already compelling story.
And that ending? Literal goosebumps. The kind that makes you stare at the last page for a minute just to absorb it all.
I received a free copy of this book, and this is my honest, personal review. Thank you so much, Jute, for the opportunity to read Wild Blood - what an incredible story!
Wild Blood is beautifully written and emotionally powerful. The storytelling pulls you in and takes you on a truly unforgettable journey alongside the FMC. Her growth, resilience, and healing are handled with so much care, and the found family element absolutely stole my heart.
The magic system is incredibly well thought out and clearly explained, which made the world feel rich and immersive without ever being confusing. The romance weaves in perfectly, adding depth and warmth to an already compelling story.
And that ending? Literal goosebumps. The kind that makes you stare at the last page for a minute just to absorb it all.
I received a free copy of this book, and this is my honest, personal review. Thank you so much, Jute, for the opportunity to read Wild Blood - what an incredible story!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What can I say... I couldn't put this book down. I had to force myself to sleep. The writing style was chefs kiss. High fantasy world. Jute Foster did an amazing job of character and world building. She made me hate the people we were supposed to hate and absolutely love the characters that made this story fantastic.
Absolutely amazing book.
Absolutely amazing book.
February 5, 2026
✨ARC Review✨
✨hurt/comfort
✨slow burn
✨trauma healing
✨academy instructor/recruit
It feels like a disgrace to try and use one word to describe Wild Blood, but if I had to it would be “stunning”.
A uniquely beautiful tale of perseverance, trauma healing, authentic personal growth, and deep emotional love in a genre riddled with lackluster imitations.
Gessa is my favorite type of FMC. Soft and quiet, intelligent, not belligerent or unnecessarily combative or antagonistic. A woman quietly determined to find and wield her strength in a world hell bent on keeping her weak. Her escape from Polan and journey to the academy felt like its own novel, packed with fear, tension, and harrowing despair. Her time at the academy was filled with growth, confrontation and hope. Her journey through the woods with Ky and ultimate confrontation with Polan was fierce, strong, and a culmination of all the work she’d done to escape her fear.
Ky was the typical grumpy instructor, until he wasn’t. Refusing to deal with his own trauma, Gessa was the perfect person to force that healing forward. She challenged his carefully constructed self-imposed prison. Showing Ky hope, acceptance, and partnership was exactly what he needed to see himself worthy of a life.
The writing was beautiful, descriptive and immersive. The author sucks you into this world from the first paragraph and doesn’t let go until the last word.
Why not 5 ⭐️…
Firstly, this was a sloooooowwwww burn. Which is fine, two traumatized people need time to heal. But I feel like this was missing that crackling visceral palpable tension and chemistry. The Mr Darcy hand flex. The edge of your seat, oh my god please when will they?!?!?!?! Where you’re begging for it. You’re desperate for them to stop circling each other and take the leap. That desperation as a reader was missing. There was quiet chemistry and small moments where we saw their attraction and refusal of it, but the heat that makes the slow burn so delicious was a bit tepid.
I wanted more found family moments. Gessa folding into the cohort. Building individual friendships and trust. She was so separate at the start, and we get a taste of that inclusion happening but I wanted more meat to that part of the story. It would have been so satisfying and added to the emotional journey.
But in short, this was a beautifully written emotional journey of healing and inner strength, with a quiet romance to last the ages.
✨hurt/comfort
✨slow burn
✨trauma healing
✨academy instructor/recruit
It feels like a disgrace to try and use one word to describe Wild Blood, but if I had to it would be “stunning”.
A uniquely beautiful tale of perseverance, trauma healing, authentic personal growth, and deep emotional love in a genre riddled with lackluster imitations.
Gessa is my favorite type of FMC. Soft and quiet, intelligent, not belligerent or unnecessarily combative or antagonistic. A woman quietly determined to find and wield her strength in a world hell bent on keeping her weak. Her escape from Polan and journey to the academy felt like its own novel, packed with fear, tension, and harrowing despair. Her time at the academy was filled with growth, confrontation and hope. Her journey through the woods with Ky and ultimate confrontation with Polan was fierce, strong, and a culmination of all the work she’d done to escape her fear.
Ky was the typical grumpy instructor, until he wasn’t. Refusing to deal with his own trauma, Gessa was the perfect person to force that healing forward. She challenged his carefully constructed self-imposed prison. Showing Ky hope, acceptance, and partnership was exactly what he needed to see himself worthy of a life.
The writing was beautiful, descriptive and immersive. The author sucks you into this world from the first paragraph and doesn’t let go until the last word.
Why not 5 ⭐️…
Firstly, this was a sloooooowwwww burn. Which is fine, two traumatized people need time to heal. But I feel like this was missing that crackling visceral palpable tension and chemistry. The Mr Darcy hand flex. The edge of your seat, oh my god please when will they?!?!?!?! Where you’re begging for it. You’re desperate for them to stop circling each other and take the leap. That desperation as a reader was missing. There was quiet chemistry and small moments where we saw their attraction and refusal of it, but the heat that makes the slow burn so delicious was a bit tepid.
I wanted more found family moments. Gessa folding into the cohort. Building individual friendships and trust. She was so separate at the start, and we get a taste of that inclusion happening but I wanted more meat to that part of the story. It would have been so satisfying and added to the emotional journey.
But in short, this was a beautifully written emotional journey of healing and inner strength, with a quiet romance to last the ages.
February 9, 2026
Arc Review.
This emotional journey of survival, trauma healing, personal growth, and inner strength will have you hooked from the beginning.
Jute’s writing completely draws you in, with great world building and exploration of the unique magic system.
The story follows our FMC Gessa, a DV survivor, through sheer courage, determination, and inner strength escaping her torment to seek sanctuary in The Iron Spur Academy. But her struggles don’t end there.
Whilst at the Academy, Gessa is thrown in the deep end and must learn how to harness her unique gift that has been suppressed for years in order to maintain her sanctuary and the aid of The Iron Spurs.
Whilst grappling with her tortured past and trying to recover both psychically and emotionally from the trauma she endured, she now has the additional battle of being an outcast and trying to prove herself in a world that believes she is broken.
Due to Gessa’s volatile magic she is forced to take 1 on 1 lessons to learn how to control her magic. Instructor Ky, an injured and tormented soul struggling from his own past trauma from a mission gone wrong and the loss of his soul-beast wants nothing more than for Gessa to leave, believing she is a danger to both herself and everyone in the Academy.
Not only does he believe her dangerous but her wild magic and lack of control is a constant reminder of what the recklessness of his past cost him.
When the volatility of Gessa’s wild magic accidentally tears them away from the Academy and drops them into the middle of nowhere, they have no choice but to acknowledge each others traumas and learn how to trust and rely on one another to survive the unknown enemy territory they find themselves in.
This book had me emotionally invested from the start, and kept me fully immersed in the story throughout.
I absolutely loved Gessa’s character development and the iron will and strength that she never let break, and the way Ky actually sees her and acknowledges her pain and struggles, encouraging her to find her own strength to move forward, and accepts her for who she is.
“Healing isn’t a straight line, Gessa. It’s not a mountain you climb until you get to the top. It’s a tide. It comes in, and it goes out. You have good days. And then you have days where a memory hits you like a rogue wave and pulls you under. But being pulled under doesn’t mean you’ve forgotten how to swim.”
“You cannot find stillness in Chaos. You must build it.”
This emotional journey of survival, trauma healing, personal growth, and inner strength will have you hooked from the beginning.
Jute’s writing completely draws you in, with great world building and exploration of the unique magic system.
The story follows our FMC Gessa, a DV survivor, through sheer courage, determination, and inner strength escaping her torment to seek sanctuary in The Iron Spur Academy. But her struggles don’t end there.
Whilst at the Academy, Gessa is thrown in the deep end and must learn how to harness her unique gift that has been suppressed for years in order to maintain her sanctuary and the aid of The Iron Spurs.
Whilst grappling with her tortured past and trying to recover both psychically and emotionally from the trauma she endured, she now has the additional battle of being an outcast and trying to prove herself in a world that believes she is broken.
Due to Gessa’s volatile magic she is forced to take 1 on 1 lessons to learn how to control her magic. Instructor Ky, an injured and tormented soul struggling from his own past trauma from a mission gone wrong and the loss of his soul-beast wants nothing more than for Gessa to leave, believing she is a danger to both herself and everyone in the Academy.
Not only does he believe her dangerous but her wild magic and lack of control is a constant reminder of what the recklessness of his past cost him.
When the volatility of Gessa’s wild magic accidentally tears them away from the Academy and drops them into the middle of nowhere, they have no choice but to acknowledge each others traumas and learn how to trust and rely on one another to survive the unknown enemy territory they find themselves in.
This book had me emotionally invested from the start, and kept me fully immersed in the story throughout.
I absolutely loved Gessa’s character development and the iron will and strength that she never let break, and the way Ky actually sees her and acknowledges her pain and struggles, encouraging her to find her own strength to move forward, and accepts her for who she is.
“Healing isn’t a straight line, Gessa. It’s not a mountain you climb until you get to the top. It’s a tide. It comes in, and it goes out. You have good days. And then you have days where a memory hits you like a rogue wave and pulls you under. But being pulled under doesn’t mean you’ve forgotten how to swim.”
“You cannot find stillness in Chaos. You must build it.”
February 22, 2026
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review
5⭐️
Spice🌶️(🫑 until the very end but that last scene girlie👀 pop off)
Freaking sick cover first off, the visual is ✨poppin✨
Before I get into anything I want to scream a little bit about the magic use but I want to do so in a way that doesn’t spoil anything so bear with me.
People say “omg super unique magic system” all the time.
THIS IS THE COOLEST MAGIC AND QUITE LITERALLY THERE IS NOTHING ELSE IVE EVER SEEN LIKE IT. THIS IS WHAT EVERY AUTHOR WISHES THEY COULD COME UP WITH!!!
And the way it’s used in the story?? Phenomenal. And it was just so refreshing to have something genuinely new, unique, interesting, complex dude I freaking loved it
OKAY screaming over let’s move on
The writing is beautiful and the characters are well written. There is depth there, that depth is explained in a way that makes sense for the character development. You can see the care Foster puts into writing their people.
There’s a speech or two given and the way they’re written adds so much gravitas to the scenes they’re in. I think it’s easy to shy away from fully committing to a character having something like a grand speech/monologue because you either nail it or you don’t and Foster absolutely rocks it
I specifically liked how the physical attraction is approached with our FMC, it’s not insta-lust which would have been odd for her in particular but it’s acknowledged in a way that reminds you she is still a feeling woman regardless of her past and opens up a way to healing that doesn’t feel rushed and, for lack of a better word, icky.
Not me crying at work over a falling rock👀
I’m sincerely hoping that there is some kind of continuation to this story somewhere down the road. The ending feels complete(and it smacks 10/10) so it could definitely be a standalone but the story is so good, I want there to be a secret plot and for this to actually be a trilogy lol
My only complaint with this story is that there isn’t more of it
I love LOVE finding new authors and am grateful to have stumbled my way here and allowed to read this incredible work. Thank you Foster for the opportunity!
5⭐️
Spice🌶️(🫑 until the very end but that last scene girlie👀 pop off)
Freaking sick cover first off, the visual is ✨poppin✨
Before I get into anything I want to scream a little bit about the magic use but I want to do so in a way that doesn’t spoil anything so bear with me.
People say “omg super unique magic system” all the time.
THIS IS THE COOLEST MAGIC AND QUITE LITERALLY THERE IS NOTHING ELSE IVE EVER SEEN LIKE IT. THIS IS WHAT EVERY AUTHOR WISHES THEY COULD COME UP WITH!!!
And the way it’s used in the story?? Phenomenal. And it was just so refreshing to have something genuinely new, unique, interesting, complex dude I freaking loved it
OKAY screaming over let’s move on
The writing is beautiful and the characters are well written. There is depth there, that depth is explained in a way that makes sense for the character development. You can see the care Foster puts into writing their people.
There’s a speech or two given and the way they’re written adds so much gravitas to the scenes they’re in. I think it’s easy to shy away from fully committing to a character having something like a grand speech/monologue because you either nail it or you don’t and Foster absolutely rocks it
I specifically liked how the physical attraction is approached with our FMC, it’s not insta-lust which would have been odd for her in particular but it’s acknowledged in a way that reminds you she is still a feeling woman regardless of her past and opens up a way to healing that doesn’t feel rushed and, for lack of a better word, icky.
Not me crying at work over a falling rock👀
I’m sincerely hoping that there is some kind of continuation to this story somewhere down the road. The ending feels complete(and it smacks 10/10) so it could definitely be a standalone but the story is so good, I want there to be a secret plot and for this to actually be a trilogy lol
My only complaint with this story is that there isn’t more of it
I love LOVE finding new authors and am grateful to have stumbled my way here and allowed to read this incredible work. Thank you Foster for the opportunity!
February 13, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wild Blood by Jute Foster follows Gessa, a woman trapped into an abusive marriage who's only chance to save herself means joining the ranks of people with magic and training to control her powers.
I loved the way the author wrote the characters. Gessa's journey to healing doesn't happen immediately, it takes time before she learns to trust people, before she understands that her abusive marriage is not the norm and what love should actually look like. Ky, who becomes her instructor and is weary of the magnitude of her powers, is also well-written. Despite his opinions about Gessa's magic and the danger she represents, he ends up helping her understand and control her magic, but he also plays an important role in her healing process. Even Gessa's abusive husband, Polan, is well-written. I think he might be the character that actually made me appreciate Jute Foster's way of writing characters because he was so realistic. The way he read people and understood how he had to behave in order to manipulate them perfectly... Don't get me wrong, he's written amazingly, but definitely not the sort of man who deserves any sympathy after what he put Gessa through.
I'll admit that I'm not a fan of teacher-student relationships, but Gessa and Ky's was so well-written. I think my favourite part is that they're both adults, Gessa's not a minor, she's a grown woman. I loved that the characters are in their thirties, they're mature, so this was a breath of fresh air.
I have to say, I didn't like Ky at first. I mean, with all that Gessa had been through, I wanted someone that was less brooding (if I can put it this way) for her. But he won me over quickly.
I loved the writing in this book, the characters, the world-building, which is very unique. Honestly, I loved it all. It's a story about a woman's resilient journey towards survival, healing and facing her traumas, set in a fantastic world filled with magic.
Wild Blood by Jute Foster follows Gessa, a woman trapped into an abusive marriage who's only chance to save herself means joining the ranks of people with magic and training to control her powers.
I loved the way the author wrote the characters. Gessa's journey to healing doesn't happen immediately, it takes time before she learns to trust people, before she understands that her abusive marriage is not the norm and what love should actually look like. Ky, who becomes her instructor and is weary of the magnitude of her powers, is also well-written. Despite his opinions about Gessa's magic and the danger she represents, he ends up helping her understand and control her magic, but he also plays an important role in her healing process. Even Gessa's abusive husband, Polan, is well-written. I think he might be the character that actually made me appreciate Jute Foster's way of writing characters because he was so realistic. The way he read people and understood how he had to behave in order to manipulate them perfectly... Don't get me wrong, he's written amazingly, but definitely not the sort of man who deserves any sympathy after what he put Gessa through.
I'll admit that I'm not a fan of teacher-student relationships, but Gessa and Ky's was so well-written. I think my favourite part is that they're both adults, Gessa's not a minor, she's a grown woman. I loved that the characters are in their thirties, they're mature, so this was a breath of fresh air.
I have to say, I didn't like Ky at first. I mean, with all that Gessa had been through, I wanted someone that was less brooding (if I can put it this way) for her. But he won me over quickly.
I loved the writing in this book, the characters, the world-building, which is very unique. Honestly, I loved it all. It's a story about a woman's resilient journey towards survival, healing and facing her traumas, set in a fantastic world filled with magic.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc recived from Author🥰
This was an interesting story, but I’ll be honest, it didn’t completely capture my focus. Maybe it was the pacing? I’m not sure, because I liked the FMC and MMC, I loved to hate the villain and the magic system really pulled me in.
Our FMC is strong and determined after years of abuse, she finally finds herself and the will to fight back. That resilience? Inspiring.
And the MMC? So damn refreshing. Sure, he’s the classic grumpy instructor, but he’s also scarred and disabled. A genuinely unique concept in a genre obsessed with perfect, overpowered male leads. Honestly, I adored that difference.
Their healing and trust journey was beautifully done. Both main characters have faced so much trauma, and watching them slowly learn to open up and grow was honestly uplifting.
The world and magic system are cool, especially the idea of soul beasts. I just wish we’d gotten a little more depth and lore about them, because I was left wanting more.
So it was a solid fantasy with standout characters, a unique MMC, and a great concept. If you’re after something a little different and appreciate nuanced journeys of healing, give this a try. I just wish the pacing and worldbuilding had drawn me in a bit deeper.
This was an interesting story, but I’ll be honest, it didn’t completely capture my focus. Maybe it was the pacing? I’m not sure, because I liked the FMC and MMC, I loved to hate the villain and the magic system really pulled me in.
Our FMC is strong and determined after years of abuse, she finally finds herself and the will to fight back. That resilience? Inspiring.
And the MMC? So damn refreshing. Sure, he’s the classic grumpy instructor, but he’s also scarred and disabled. A genuinely unique concept in a genre obsessed with perfect, overpowered male leads. Honestly, I adored that difference.
Their healing and trust journey was beautifully done. Both main characters have faced so much trauma, and watching them slowly learn to open up and grow was honestly uplifting.
The world and magic system are cool, especially the idea of soul beasts. I just wish we’d gotten a little more depth and lore about them, because I was left wanting more.
So it was a solid fantasy with standout characters, a unique MMC, and a great concept. If you’re after something a little different and appreciate nuanced journeys of healing, give this a try. I just wish the pacing and worldbuilding had drawn me in a bit deeper.
February 23, 2026
—ARC REVIEW—
Wild Blood wrecked me in the quiet, aching way only the best dark romantasy can.
Gessa’s story begins in survival — not adventure. she escapes… but freedom isn’t safety. She breaks her chains, && the magic that was suppressed inside her awakens, wild and uncontrollable, and she’s haunted by both her past and the power in her veins. 
Then comes the man hollowed by loss who collides with her fate. This book leans hard into trauma, healing, and the terrifying vulnerability of trusting another person when you’ve only known control and pain. The romance doesn’t save them — they save themselves, and only then can they reach for each other.
The magic system— power that lashes out when emotions spike, magic tied to identity instead of spells. It mirrors Gessa perfectly: messy, dangerous, alive.
By the end, Wild Blood isn’t just about escaping a monster — it’s about unlearning the voice he left behind in your head. And that hit deep.
If you love dark fantasy romance with wounded characters, emotional healing, and earned love instead of instant devotion… this one will live in your chest long after the last page.
This wasn’t a story about being rescued.
It was a story about learning you were never meant to be owned.
Wild Blood wrecked me in the quiet, aching way only the best dark romantasy can.
Gessa’s story begins in survival — not adventure. she escapes… but freedom isn’t safety. She breaks her chains, && the magic that was suppressed inside her awakens, wild and uncontrollable, and she’s haunted by both her past and the power in her veins. 
Then comes the man hollowed by loss who collides with her fate. This book leans hard into trauma, healing, and the terrifying vulnerability of trusting another person when you’ve only known control and pain. The romance doesn’t save them — they save themselves, and only then can they reach for each other.
The magic system— power that lashes out when emotions spike, magic tied to identity instead of spells. It mirrors Gessa perfectly: messy, dangerous, alive.
By the end, Wild Blood isn’t just about escaping a monster — it’s about unlearning the voice he left behind in your head. And that hit deep.
If you love dark fantasy romance with wounded characters, emotional healing, and earned love instead of instant devotion… this one will live in your chest long after the last page.
This wasn’t a story about being rescued.
It was a story about learning you were never meant to be owned.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review: 4.5 stars
I was privileged enough to be able to read this ahead of release. This is a standalone book.
I really enjoyed this book: the world building was fantastic, the magic felt fresh and the characters were interesting. The story held a constant steady pace, anticipation for the next thing kept me hooked and I thoroughly enjoyed the character development and slow burn between Ky and Gessa.
Gessa's story was intense and I really connected with her, I loved how she grew throughout the book (in spirit and resolve). The timeline for coming to terms and working through what happened to her, seemed to be almost instantaneous at the end of the book, felt too sudden considering it was a key factor throughout the book.
That said, it was a fantastic book and I'm excited to read her other work.
I was privileged enough to be able to read this ahead of release. This is a standalone book.
I really enjoyed this book: the world building was fantastic, the magic felt fresh and the characters were interesting. The story held a constant steady pace, anticipation for the next thing kept me hooked and I thoroughly enjoyed the character development and slow burn between Ky and Gessa.
Gessa's story was intense and I really connected with her, I loved how she grew throughout the book (in spirit and resolve). The timeline for coming to terms and working through what happened to her, seemed to be almost instantaneous at the end of the book, felt too sudden considering it was a key factor throughout the book.
That said, it was a fantastic book and I'm excited to read her other work.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This story starts of really strong with her escape/journey to the academy is a trial in itself, her determination showed her strength as she traveled and overcame hardships by her own grit and stubbornness to pave her own future. the story continues to build strong, giving more context and uncovering mysteries until it all comes together at the end.
The aithor has created a very intricate and well thought out power system which is shown by giving bits of context through the chapters rather than it being narrated altogether, you learn more about the power and the land as you read. And how they are all interconnected.
This story is full of trials and tribulations, and although it does have many academia aspects, it is more an adventure for safety and healing.
The oil lamp moment is by far the best moment of the book.
The aithor has created a very intricate and well thought out power system which is shown by giving bits of context through the chapters rather than it being narrated altogether, you learn more about the power and the land as you read. And how they are all interconnected.
This story is full of trials and tribulations, and although it does have many academia aspects, it is more an adventure for safety and healing.
The oil lamp moment is by far the best moment of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Så glad att jag fick läsa denna som ARC-reader. Karaktärerna var välskrivna (HATAR Polan) och man föll för Gessa och Ky. De hade sina fel och brister (som alla) vilket gjorde dem mänskliga och relaterbara. Gessas utveckling var uppfriskande jordnära och träningsmontagen (som jag i ärlighetens namn tröttnat lite på i andra fantasyböcker där den kvinnliga protagonisten ska finna sin egen styrka) kändes realistiska och meningsfulla utan att ta över. Även utvecklingen av Gessas och Kys relation var trovärdig, man förstod hans reservationer och kunde följa med i hur hans inställning ändrades i takt med hans insikter om Gessas liv.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wild Blood was such an amazing world building book. Gessa found herself and all of her broken pieces. the author def has a way with worlds and healing the damaged. Ky was that "I'm too good for this" MMC with a tragically broken soul.
I absolutely adored the Soul Beasts and think they deserve their own novella!
Gessa took every step of healing and building back up her shattered walls. she found a way back to herself. healing from the inside out AND finding a partner to pick up the pieces she may forget? sold. this book was amazingly written. detailed to a T. the highs. the lows. the trauma. the network. chefs kiss. I cannot wait to read more from Jute Foster!
I absolutely adored the Soul Beasts and think they deserve their own novella!
Gessa took every step of healing and building back up her shattered walls. she found a way back to herself. healing from the inside out AND finding a partner to pick up the pieces she may forget? sold. this book was amazingly written. detailed to a T. the highs. the lows. the trauma. the network. chefs kiss. I cannot wait to read more from Jute Foster!
March 9, 2026
The author doesn’t back down from violence and captures the raw and pure emotions that come with it.
Fascinating is the way the academy is described and worked out in detail.
The connection between the two main characters and they development of something beautiful is an interesting element, that kept me turning page after page. I wanted to know how things went on and would evolve! ;)
I recommend this standalone romantasy because of the good structure, great character building and interesting world building of the academy and its surroundings!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Fascinating is the way the academy is described and worked out in detail.
The connection between the two main characters and they development of something beautiful is an interesting element, that kept me turning page after page. I wanted to know how things went on and would evolve! ;)
I recommend this standalone romantasy because of the good structure, great character building and interesting world building of the academy and its surroundings!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 26, 2026
Wild Blood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
✨ Academy setting
✨ Instructor/ older student
✨ Forced proximity
✨ DV survivor - FMC
✨ Tortured MMC
✨ Magical beasts
✨ Slow burn
Oh this book was beautifully written. Such an emotional story.
The FMC Gessa is a survivor of DV and on the run from her husband. She seeks sanctuary at the academy to help her tame the wild magic coursing through her.
Her character grew so much in this storyline. And I enjoyed every minute of it.
The MMC Ky has suffered through a terrible loss and now has a disability but he doesn’t let that stop him. He was unsure of Gessa at first thinking she was dangerous but he eventually comes to understand her. And quickly becomes her protector.
The descriptive world building in this book was next level.
Then ending of this book is beautifully written and ends on a HEA.
I loved every page of this book and would highly recommend!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving a review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
✨ Academy setting
✨ Instructor/ older student
✨ Forced proximity
✨ DV survivor - FMC
✨ Tortured MMC
✨ Magical beasts
✨ Slow burn
Oh this book was beautifully written. Such an emotional story.
The FMC Gessa is a survivor of DV and on the run from her husband. She seeks sanctuary at the academy to help her tame the wild magic coursing through her.
Her character grew so much in this storyline. And I enjoyed every minute of it.
The MMC Ky has suffered through a terrible loss and now has a disability but he doesn’t let that stop him. He was unsure of Gessa at first thinking she was dangerous but he eventually comes to understand her. And quickly becomes her protector.
The descriptive world building in this book was next level.
Then ending of this book is beautifully written and ends on a HEA.
I loved every page of this book and would highly recommend!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving a review voluntarily.
January 27, 2026
Well, I’m definitely sad this book is over, I like many of the others who have read will miss Gessa so much! Gessa’s story of survival and determination is invigorating. She is so strong and courageous, even when most would crumble. Her story of DV and pursuit of another life is then met with a male dominated academy where she has to do the work to heal and figure out who she really is. She then meets the MMC who has his own trauma that is heartbreaking, and their stories just intertwine in the most beautiful ways. They give each other exactly what they need to heal and are such a badass power couple. The world building was great, the magical creatures were so fun, and I absolutely loved the multiple POVs. Highly recommend reading for anyone who loves a good romantasy with a great love story tied to perseverance.
I received this as an ARC, thank you for the opportunity Jute!!
I received this as an ARC, thank you for the opportunity Jute!!
February 3, 2026
This book was a tender, beautifully written journey. It is emotionally rich in all the best ways. The author once again proves she knows how to make love feel earned, not manufactured. The relationship unfolds with a sincerity that makes you believe it could actually stand the test of time. The stakes are real, the conflict feels genuine, and I found myself rooting for the leads, especially Gessa, whose experiences hit close to home. I loved the magic system and I really want my own soul beasts!
I read this as an ARC reader, thank you for the opportunity to read this early!
I read this as an ARC reader, thank you for the opportunity to read this early!
February 22, 2026
This book is dark, layered, emotionally complex, and thoughtfully written. The FMC is fierce, and we’re right there with her as she works through her trauma and reclaims her power. If you love a story about a woman finding herself again and a slow burn, no insta-love, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
Favorite Quote: “You cannot find stillness in Chaos. You must build it.”
Tropes:
-Slow burn
-Trauma/Healing
-Found Family
Favorite Quote: “You cannot find stillness in Chaos. You must build it.”
Tropes:
-Slow burn
-Trauma/Healing
-Found Family
February 25, 2026
3.5*
Honestly what she said : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"You need to be in the right headspace for this one.
The writing is so good that you actually start to feel the desperation and the impending doom. Very few 'happy things' happen, so that oppressive atmosphere really starts to get to you by the 80% mark."
Honestly what she said : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"You need to be in the right headspace for this one.
The writing is so good that you actually start to feel the desperation and the impending doom. Very few 'happy things' happen, so that oppressive atmosphere really starts to get to you by the 80% mark."
Review of advance copy
ARC Review
This story put me through an emotional journey that honestly needs time to be absorbed but I can say I really enjoyed the ride.
The story is beautifully written with a very clever premise that follows Gressa navigaring her way through her new state of freedom folliwing her escape from a horrifically abusive marriage.
The growth or the characters, the world building everything about this had me hooked. It was also a breath of fresh air from what was seeming a endless stream of very similar stories!
I would highly recommend and am grateful I got the chance to experience this as an ARC reader.
This story put me through an emotional journey that honestly needs time to be absorbed but I can say I really enjoyed the ride.
The story is beautifully written with a very clever premise that follows Gressa navigaring her way through her new state of freedom folliwing her escape from a horrifically abusive marriage.
The growth or the characters, the world building everything about this had me hooked. It was also a breath of fresh air from what was seeming a endless stream of very similar stories!
I would highly recommend and am grateful I got the chance to experience this as an ARC reader.
January 30, 2026
I am reviewing an ARC copy of Wild Blood, by Jute Foster
Foster has created a perfect mix of fantastic adventure, found family and romance. Wild Blood has immersive world building and complex believable characters. The story is perfect for readers of Sanderson, T Kingfisher, and the Empyrean series.
Foster has created a perfect mix of fantastic adventure, found family and romance. Wild Blood has immersive world building and complex believable characters. The story is perfect for readers of Sanderson, T Kingfisher, and the Empyrean series.
February 16, 2026
I loved this book so much. It really takes you on a deep emotional journey. I cried, my heart swelled with pride, and I rejoiced with the characters! Thank you so much for the arc, I look forward to any other books in this world!
March 10, 2026
While it took me a few chapters to get in to the story, I’m glad I kept going. This story is an unusual fantasy. A change from the usual dragons, elves, vampires, the like.
A beautiful story of resilience, power, finding the strength within yourself. Well worth the read.
A beautiful story of resilience, power, finding the strength within yourself. Well worth the read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*ARC review*
This is a story about healing from your trauma.
This book does come with trigger warnings about domestic abuse and it's warranted. Polan's manipulative hold on Gessa was so chilling, I felt it in my bones.
That being said, it was a relief to see Gessa come out of the darkness and trauma and hold her own against him, and not stay in his manipulative grasp on her.
A cynical instructor and a resilient FMC forced to work together to find out why the wayfinders are constantly under attack.
The prose was beautiful, albeit a lot more detail and slow pace than what I'm used to.
Ky and Gessa as instructor and student wasn't my favourite dynamic at first, but when they got on the road together, I finally believed in their chemistry.
There were minor issues with continuity or repetitive prose that made me lower the rating a bit, but otherwise this journey was very fun.
This is a story about healing from your trauma.
This book does come with trigger warnings about domestic abuse and it's warranted. Polan's manipulative hold on Gessa was so chilling, I felt it in my bones.
That being said, it was a relief to see Gessa come out of the darkness and trauma and hold her own against him, and not stay in his manipulative grasp on her.
A cynical instructor and a resilient FMC forced to work together to find out why the wayfinders are constantly under attack.
The prose was beautiful, albeit a lot more detail and slow pace than what I'm used to.
Ky and Gessa as instructor and student wasn't my favourite dynamic at first, but when they got on the road together, I finally believed in their chemistry.
There were minor issues with continuity or repetitive prose that made me lower the rating a bit, but otherwise this journey was very fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2026
this is how you write a cartoonishly evil antagonist without making it unbelievably cartoonish. however, it took me a very long time to get past the first chapters. I do not have the anxiety levels or life experiences of the average person though.
I think the plot was unique and the world was unique but certain details were forgotten or left out.
regarding the characters themselves, theyre all compelling but a little flat. polan is a great gaston type, but it's very clear exactly what he is and he doesnt actually have much impact on gessa's growth. hes like a shadow puppet bedtime monster who is a plot device to motivate ky and gessa, but polan himself doesnt really bring anything to the story and almost all of it could have happened without polan appearing at all. even when he did appear, he didnt really do much
gessa is more fleshed out but her only growth is (1) mentally strong and determined and smart but physically weak to (2) mentally strong and determined and smart and physically strong. yes, she had ptsd and lots of barriers to healing, but the way her mental processes are written feels like after ky is introduced she only had to punch through a piece of tissue paper to heal and evolve and she almost never backslid. which go her but it felt really fake
kind of the same with ky. it took like a single moment with gessa to start breaking his walls down and like 3 little acts to heal most of his pain and ptsd.
the side characters are very plot purposed. emotionless tracker who tracks without emotion. egotistical gunner who shows off and belittles others. old woman warrior who is tough against powerful and compassionate to weak. warrior teacher who is tough on students but light when he has to be. goons who goon. I kinda feel like having so many characters who are only mentioned 3-4 times was a big distraction.
this was an interesting concept. I wish it had been developed more. like, a map, since travel is such a big part of the story. we got a lot of info-dumping, especially at the beginning, and scenes with minor/inconsequential characters of Random Kindness that I admit were really nice additions for an abused woman to flee and receive so much kindness from other women, but having so many drawn out scenes like this felt unnecessary. it could have been a few paragraphs total instead of detailing so many named characters that we never see again, and it would have had the exact same impact (or more, since it would have been a clear theme to show so many examples in a short space of women's kindness to a strange girl they know is fleeing sonething).
i would have also liked an explanation of the lockets. we know they are gray for nonmagical people and blue (?) for wayfinders. other than the color, what do they look like? how do they work? why does everyone wear them? how do they receive them? where do they come from? at one point a characters magic is "bound" aka removed and the locket changes to gray immediately. is the locket itself magical? how are people even tested for abilities?
and speaking of wayfinders, how does that work? it seems genetic but if that were the case it probably would have been mentioned more often than just for gessa's ancestry. why are there so few recruits and many of them drop out yet they're practically a sovereign nation with educators, healers, warriors, leaders, and outposts with dozens of people? is wayfinding magic the same as healing magic or different? does it always manifest at 18 or varied? right on birthdays or like a second puberty? how did gessa's magic never get discovered yet she had a locket?
time also confused me. several times, we're told something will take x days or a week or x weeks, then some amount of time passes, but it whatever event or thing is still just as far away. a few examples: the recruits train with jaedon for 3 weeks. we get some scenes of the first days. we get a bunch of exposition on gessa's training and improvement during week 2. then more details on her impeovement. it feels like much time has past. but it's still week 3. also: it's been weeks in the woods. its been weeks training with jaedon. its been weeks training with ky. its been weeks training with jaedon. its been weeks training with ky. and back and forth. so how long has it been? or: after gessa and ky are stranded. they're a week from the academy on horse. a week or more on foot from the emergency depot. then at the emergency depot, it's a week or more to the outpost. then at the outpost, theyre 2 weeks ridr from the academy.
so many weeks and days go by im just confused how long it's been. I think this could have also been fixed with a montage-style quick summary of the time rather than so many detailed scenes and references to the time that it feels off. it might also be fhat the only time gauges are weeks, days, and hours. months are used a few times, but only once (yes I searched it) does gessa note she's spent months training. it's so vague.
somewhat related is how often information was repeated just likes after it was initially given, and sometimes contradicted itself. like at the outpost, ky visits gessa in her room on their first night to bring her a blanket, then the next morning he has to ask someone where her room is. there were also a few times a character said or thought something and then repeated it a few lines later, or one character thought something and a few paragraphs later in a different pov another character thought the same thing. was it moved around in drafts anx accidentally duplicated? was it missed in editing? is there a reason it was repeated?
and how old is gessa? we're told she's been married for 5 years and hasnt left polan's land since her 18th birthday. we're also told her kept her magic hidden for 23 years. so she has to be 23 right? but she and other characters repeatedly say she's almost 30. the younger recruits I can believe were aging her up just because theyre young and egotistical, but other characters who are older than her also say it. in what world is 23 "almost 30?" and how is 23 so dramatically ancient for these recruits if they're all 18? or are those recruits younger? like i was excited at first to have a fantasy character not barely 18 but then got sad she's almost 30 but then got confused how I made up her being 23. this could be a case of me being stupid.
idk i feel like i have a lot of questions and vibes but not a lot of info.
I think the plot was unique and the world was unique but certain details were forgotten or left out.
regarding the characters themselves, theyre all compelling but a little flat. polan is a great gaston type, but it's very clear exactly what he is and he doesnt actually have much impact on gessa's growth. hes like a shadow puppet bedtime monster who is a plot device to motivate ky and gessa, but polan himself doesnt really bring anything to the story and almost all of it could have happened without polan appearing at all. even when he did appear, he didnt really do much
gessa is more fleshed out but her only growth is (1) mentally strong and determined and smart but physically weak to (2) mentally strong and determined and smart and physically strong. yes, she had ptsd and lots of barriers to healing, but the way her mental processes are written feels like after ky is introduced she only had to punch through a piece of tissue paper to heal and evolve and she almost never backslid. which go her but it felt really fake
kind of the same with ky. it took like a single moment with gessa to start breaking his walls down and like 3 little acts to heal most of his pain and ptsd.
the side characters are very plot purposed. emotionless tracker who tracks without emotion. egotistical gunner who shows off and belittles others. old woman warrior who is tough against powerful and compassionate to weak. warrior teacher who is tough on students but light when he has to be. goons who goon. I kinda feel like having so many characters who are only mentioned 3-4 times was a big distraction.
this was an interesting concept. I wish it had been developed more. like, a map, since travel is such a big part of the story. we got a lot of info-dumping, especially at the beginning, and scenes with minor/inconsequential characters of Random Kindness that I admit were really nice additions for an abused woman to flee and receive so much kindness from other women, but having so many drawn out scenes like this felt unnecessary. it could have been a few paragraphs total instead of detailing so many named characters that we never see again, and it would have had the exact same impact (or more, since it would have been a clear theme to show so many examples in a short space of women's kindness to a strange girl they know is fleeing sonething).
i would have also liked an explanation of the lockets. we know they are gray for nonmagical people and blue (?) for wayfinders. other than the color, what do they look like? how do they work? why does everyone wear them? how do they receive them? where do they come from? at one point a characters magic is "bound" aka removed and the locket changes to gray immediately. is the locket itself magical? how are people even tested for abilities?
and speaking of wayfinders, how does that work? it seems genetic but if that were the case it probably would have been mentioned more often than just for gessa's ancestry. why are there so few recruits and many of them drop out yet they're practically a sovereign nation with educators, healers, warriors, leaders, and outposts with dozens of people? is wayfinding magic the same as healing magic or different? does it always manifest at 18 or varied? right on birthdays or like a second puberty? how did gessa's magic never get discovered yet she had a locket?
time also confused me. several times, we're told something will take x days or a week or x weeks, then some amount of time passes, but it whatever event or thing is still just as far away. a few examples: the recruits train with jaedon for 3 weeks. we get some scenes of the first days. we get a bunch of exposition on gessa's training and improvement during week 2. then more details on her impeovement. it feels like much time has past. but it's still week 3. also: it's been weeks in the woods. its been weeks training with jaedon. its been weeks training with ky. its been weeks training with jaedon. its been weeks training with ky. and back and forth. so how long has it been? or: after gessa and ky are stranded. they're a week from the academy on horse. a week or more on foot from the emergency depot. then at the emergency depot, it's a week or more to the outpost. then at the outpost, theyre 2 weeks ridr from the academy.
so many weeks and days go by im just confused how long it's been. I think this could have also been fixed with a montage-style quick summary of the time rather than so many detailed scenes and references to the time that it feels off. it might also be fhat the only time gauges are weeks, days, and hours. months are used a few times, but only once (yes I searched it) does gessa note she's spent months training. it's so vague.
somewhat related is how often information was repeated just likes after it was initially given, and sometimes contradicted itself. like at the outpost, ky visits gessa in her room on their first night to bring her a blanket, then the next morning he has to ask someone where her room is. there were also a few times a character said or thought something and then repeated it a few lines later, or one character thought something and a few paragraphs later in a different pov another character thought the same thing. was it moved around in drafts anx accidentally duplicated? was it missed in editing? is there a reason it was repeated?
and how old is gessa? we're told she's been married for 5 years and hasnt left polan's land since her 18th birthday. we're also told her kept her magic hidden for 23 years. so she has to be 23 right? but she and other characters repeatedly say she's almost 30. the younger recruits I can believe were aging her up just because theyre young and egotistical, but other characters who are older than her also say it. in what world is 23 "almost 30?" and how is 23 so dramatically ancient for these recruits if they're all 18? or are those recruits younger? like i was excited at first to have a fantasy character not barely 18 but then got sad she's almost 30 but then got confused how I made up her being 23. this could be a case of me being stupid.
idk i feel like i have a lot of questions and vibes but not a lot of info.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐ARC Review of Wild Blood⭐
Many thanks to the author for providing an advanced copy of the book for an honest review!
Please make sure to read the trigger warnings of Wild Blood before reading.
“Iron creates a false sense of safety. That estate taught you that control comes from suppression. That you are only safe when the magic is suffocated. That is the lesson of a victim, Gessa, not a Wayfinder.”
I was initially drawn to this story for being advertised as a slow burn romance between wounded and broken heroes, and I'm happy to say that Wild Blood delivers well. This is not a title that tries to follow current trends for a hot and sexy romance with a Shadow Daddy. Instead, it focuses on characters that are more painfully realistic living in a cruel world. Overall this is a very solid title about healing from trauma that is held back not from what it gets wrong, but from not delving further into what it offered.
Wild Blood starts off with our female lead, Gessa, who is escaping from her abusive partner, Polan. She desperately runs off to the Iron Spurs Academy, not just for sanctuary but also because she has Wayfinding magic. Here, she meets our male lead, Ky, who is a withdrawn and quiet man who became disabled after an incident in the past. A slow and quiet romance buds between them, as Gessa learns to be able to feel safe around a man and Ky learns to be vulnerable around others. The story doesn't feel desperate to "get to the good part", it asks the reader to be patient like you would with anyone who has went through a lot. And for that, I genuinely appreciate it.
Gessa is an amazing character and I found myself relating to her quite a lot as someone who went through a troubled childhood. While she starts off understandably shaky and anxious, she is incredibly persistent and stubborn (said affectionately lol). It was great seeing her persistence positively affect Ky to opening up his shell. He admired her fighting spirit and felt a genuine cultivate her magical abilities and protect her. It was very touching to see how they slowly came to lean on each other as equals and I feel that this is one of the strongest parts of Wild Blood.
As for what I feel could make this story even better, there were parts of that I craved to be explored more. I really wish that the Soul Beasts and the spurs that the Iron Spurs wore had a bigger presence in the story. A lot of importance was put on them towards the beginning of the story but it kinda felt like they became set dressing. I also hoped we would get more about the Academy itself, like with Gessa interacting with the students more, the curriculum, the academy culture, etc. Another thing that comes to mind is the main antagonist, Polan; While he does a great job of being an allegorical representation of an abuser, I feel like Wild Blood would have benefitted more from him feeling more like a human being as the rest of the book feels more nuanced and subtle. He would frequently speak like he was speaking at a sermon, and I get that he's kinda like a politician but I feel like it didn't work for the benefit of the story.
Despite these shortcomings, Wild Blood is a wonderful story that I recommend to anyone who sounds even a bit interested in the synopsis. I can feel the love and passion in the writing, which is always an important factor in storytelling for me.
Many thanks to the author for providing an advanced copy of the book for an honest review!
Please make sure to read the trigger warnings of Wild Blood before reading.
“Iron creates a false sense of safety. That estate taught you that control comes from suppression. That you are only safe when the magic is suffocated. That is the lesson of a victim, Gessa, not a Wayfinder.”
I was initially drawn to this story for being advertised as a slow burn romance between wounded and broken heroes, and I'm happy to say that Wild Blood delivers well. This is not a title that tries to follow current trends for a hot and sexy romance with a Shadow Daddy. Instead, it focuses on characters that are more painfully realistic living in a cruel world. Overall this is a very solid title about healing from trauma that is held back not from what it gets wrong, but from not delving further into what it offered.
Wild Blood starts off with our female lead, Gessa, who is escaping from her abusive partner, Polan. She desperately runs off to the Iron Spurs Academy, not just for sanctuary but also because she has Wayfinding magic. Here, she meets our male lead, Ky, who is a withdrawn and quiet man who became disabled after an incident in the past. A slow and quiet romance buds between them, as Gessa learns to be able to feel safe around a man and Ky learns to be vulnerable around others. The story doesn't feel desperate to "get to the good part", it asks the reader to be patient like you would with anyone who has went through a lot. And for that, I genuinely appreciate it.
Gessa is an amazing character and I found myself relating to her quite a lot as someone who went through a troubled childhood. While she starts off understandably shaky and anxious, she is incredibly persistent and stubborn (said affectionately lol). It was great seeing her persistence positively affect Ky to opening up his shell. He admired her fighting spirit and felt a genuine cultivate her magical abilities and protect her. It was very touching to see how they slowly came to lean on each other as equals and I feel that this is one of the strongest parts of Wild Blood.
As for what I feel could make this story even better, there were parts of that I craved to be explored more. I really wish that the Soul Beasts and the spurs that the Iron Spurs wore had a bigger presence in the story. A lot of importance was put on them towards the beginning of the story but it kinda felt like they became set dressing. I also hoped we would get more about the Academy itself, like with Gessa interacting with the students more, the curriculum, the academy culture, etc. Another thing that comes to mind is the main antagonist, Polan; While he does a great job of being an allegorical representation of an abuser, I feel like Wild Blood would have benefitted more from him feeling more like a human being as the rest of the book feels more nuanced and subtle. He would frequently speak like he was speaking at a sermon, and I get that he's kinda like a politician but I feel like it didn't work for the benefit of the story.
Despite these shortcomings, Wild Blood is a wonderful story that I recommend to anyone who sounds even a bit interested in the synopsis. I can feel the love and passion in the writing, which is always an important factor in storytelling for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Between 3-3.5⭐
This was hard for me to decide though.
I love many parts of the story and especially the way the DV aspect was handled and the aftermath of leaving, as with the portrayal of how to live with a permanent injury and loss but still be a warrior, a hero, a teacher.
The antagonist is soooo good and got my blood boiling! He was well-written in a way that reminded me of King Midas from The Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy. So easy to hate but still feel his manipulation, his gaslighting, his reasoning. Enough to make you question if his madness has some truth to it. Excellent work on that!
The pace of the book is very slow even though the beginning is my favourite way to start a story: thrown straight into a high-stakes situation and instantly feeling the tension, the worry and the need to take action. But after Gessa's arrival at Iron Spur Academy the pace slows and we get a more traditional training academy vibe.
The problem for me here was that it is a standalone and a big portion of the book just had very little happening that seemed important for the plot. But I did start to question what the plot actually was, besides Gessa leaving her husband, healing from her trauma and learning her magic is not a danger or volatile.
And the underlining plot (the ley lines) that is also there seems to take up very little space. This is a story about overcoming trauma, finding people who see you as a person, not a weapon or a womb or property. Which makes what the Academy is doing kinda irrelevant for me. It is a shame because the world is vast and the history and lore is amazing! It is a shame it is a standalone. It could have easily been a duology with what was left open.
The romance is one of the slooooower burns. Think Daughter of No Worlds slow burn with very few glances, very mature way of handling the recruit/instructor dynamic mixed with a lot of trauma. That is not enough for me unfortunately but it is sweet and there is some spice and some wholesome moments too. So if that's your thing, this is a book for you!
The side star of the book is Jaedon! That man spews insults and praise in equal amounts and always in the most poetic manner!
⭐ "Her body has a simply fascinating refusal to accept the basic principles of physics"
⭐ "You are a wall, or you are a door!" ... "There is no in-between! A door lets everything through. A wall breaks the foolish fist that strikes it!"
A sidenote: this is multiple POW and towards the end there are some mix-ups with the narrators in small sections in several chapters. There are also some continuity errors here andre there plus the spice scenes are very little fleshes out and leaves out removal of clothes that defy the actions. Pants can't stay on, my dear. These things tend to take my out of the story, but if that doesn't bother you, you're fine.
🧾 I received this as a free ARC, thank you for that, Jute. I leave this review voluntarily.
This was hard for me to decide though.
I love many parts of the story and especially the way the DV aspect was handled and the aftermath of leaving, as with the portrayal of how to live with a permanent injury and loss but still be a warrior, a hero, a teacher.
The antagonist is soooo good and got my blood boiling! He was well-written in a way that reminded me of King Midas from The Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy. So easy to hate but still feel his manipulation, his gaslighting, his reasoning. Enough to make you question if his madness has some truth to it. Excellent work on that!
The pace of the book is very slow even though the beginning is my favourite way to start a story: thrown straight into a high-stakes situation and instantly feeling the tension, the worry and the need to take action. But after Gessa's arrival at Iron Spur Academy the pace slows and we get a more traditional training academy vibe.
The problem for me here was that it is a standalone and a big portion of the book just had very little happening that seemed important for the plot. But I did start to question what the plot actually was, besides Gessa leaving her husband, healing from her trauma and learning her magic is not a danger or volatile.
And the underlining plot (the ley lines) that is also there seems to take up very little space. This is a story about overcoming trauma, finding people who see you as a person, not a weapon or a womb or property. Which makes what the Academy is doing kinda irrelevant for me. It is a shame because the world is vast and the history and lore is amazing! It is a shame it is a standalone. It could have easily been a duology with what was left open.
The romance is one of the slooooower burns. Think Daughter of No Worlds slow burn with very few glances, very mature way of handling the recruit/instructor dynamic mixed with a lot of trauma. That is not enough for me unfortunately but it is sweet and there is some spice and some wholesome moments too. So if that's your thing, this is a book for you!
The side star of the book is Jaedon! That man spews insults and praise in equal amounts and always in the most poetic manner!
⭐ "Her body has a simply fascinating refusal to accept the basic principles of physics"
⭐ "You are a wall, or you are a door!" ... "There is no in-between! A door lets everything through. A wall breaks the foolish fist that strikes it!"
A sidenote: this is multiple POW and towards the end there are some mix-ups with the narrators in small sections in several chapters. There are also some continuity errors here andre there plus the spice scenes are very little fleshes out and leaves out removal of clothes that defy the actions. Pants can't stay on, my dear. These things tend to take my out of the story, but if that doesn't bother you, you're fine.
🧾 I received this as a free ARC, thank you for that, Jute. I leave this review voluntarily.
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