The Age of Blood and Magic: A Debut Dark Fantasy Filled With Mystery, Romance, and Social Satire

by Hannah Mathewson

Magic built their empire. Blood will decide who rules it next. When a CEO falls, one family’s battle for control becomes a brutal game of betrayal, desire, and power in this sharp, seductive debut for fans of Succession—with fangs.

A hundred years ago, magic ran wild—belonging only to the fae, the witches, the vampires. Then the mortal Martin Maddock stole its secret. With it, he forged Mythos, a company that bottles spells for humankind. Now his descendants rule a trillion-dollar empire—and Valentina Maddock is determined to inherit its throne.

The world’s wealthiest elites descend on the Maddock estate for a lavish, ultra-exclusive weekend to unveil Mythos’s latest magical breakthrough. But when Valentina’s CEO father suddenly collapses, the race for his heir begins—and the claws come out. Valentina is pitted against her playboy brother, her brilliant scientist mother, and her father’s long-time CFO. Even the guests and staff are choosing sides—and someone intends to eliminate Valentina entirely.

Then an unexpected guest arrives: a vampire. Luc Sayle has no known ties to Mythos, yet he carries a private invitation from the CEO himself. Drawn to the enigmatic and dangerously handsome stranger, Valentina senses Luc may be her only ally. But his polished words hide a bite, forcing her to question who the true monster really is.

Set in a world of dark enchantments, glittering wealth, and cutthroat ambition, The Age of Blood and Magic blends paranormal fantasy, locked-room mystery, and romantic suspense into a razor-sharp, intoxicating tale where magic is power—and everyone’s out for blood.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Vampires, Romance, Paranormal, Ebooks

432 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 15, 2026

About the author

Hannah Mathewson is the author of two YA fantasy novels, Witherward and Wayward. She was born in Cambridge and graduated from the University of East Anglia with a BA in Film and Television. She lives in Oxfordshire. The Age of Blood and Magic is her adult debut.

Reviews

[Kandace]

You know i really wanted to like this and finish it. It seemed right up my alley. And honestly it sounded so good! But about halfway through i just couldn’t do it anymore :/ this wasn’t working for me, which sucks because it seems it has rave reviews. Maybe this one just wasn’t the book for me.

[Dadreadsanreviews (james) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks net galley for the review copy! This is a story of succession falling into twilight! The story follows a murder mystery where the victim is trying to find her killer before she dies as well as wrest control of her father’s company from her half brother and ambitious mother. All the while, she contends with the ultra wealthy, intrigue, and vampires. It’s a wild story with deeply resonant social commentary on the power of wealth, greed, and lack of moral focus in modern society. I could not put it down. The pacing pulled me through like a thriller but with overlays of magic and fantasy elements, and the character stories continued to unfold with greater depth in each beat. I wanted to feel for these databases but they were all so deeply flawed that I found it hard to want good things for them. That made this such an interesting and intriguing story.

[Christina Bruce · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. Unfortunately, this ended up being a DNF for me. I made it to 41% before deciding it just wasn’t the right book for me.

I was so excited to pick this up because the premise sounded like everything I love a supernatural whodunnit with plenty of mystery and intrigue. Sadly, I found myself dragging my heels the entire way through.

The pacing felt very slow, and the plot jumped around so much that the world-building and magic system never felt fully developed. It seemed like new ideas were constantly being introduced before previous ones had been properly explained, leaving the supernatural elements feeling underdeveloped and confusing.

I also struggled to connect with the characters, who all felt quite one-dimensional. The biggest issue for me was the main character, Valentina. She was described as a strong, intelligent woman who was the ideal successor to her father’s business, but that wasn’t how she came across at all. Instead, she felt entitled, whiny, and immature, more like a sulky teenager than the capable businesswoman I was expecting.

In fact, I found myself rooting for Jude, her brother/cousin, for much of the book. There were several moments where Valentina’s actions simply didn’t make sense. Early on, she makes such a point of being terrified and disgusted by vampires and not wanting them anywhere near her home, yet within a page or two she’s happily taking one back to her room. The shift felt completely unearned and made it difficult to take her character seriously.

One of the things I was most looking forward to was exploring a rich supernatural world filled with vampires, fae, and other magical creatures. Unfortunately, by the point I reached, that never really happened. The moment that finally convinced me to stop reading was when the “faeries” turned out to be humans being paid to dress up as them for a hunting trip. That was the point where I completely checked out.

Overall, I think this had a fantastic premise and a lot of potential, but it ultimately fell well short of my expectations. The world-building lacked depth, the magic system felt underdeveloped, and the characters never came alive for me. Sadly, this one just wasn’t for me.

[Kristina Nichole]

Going to be on our September fantasy book poll

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The Age of Blood and Magic” by Hannah Mathewson feels like someone took Succession, added vampires, curses, fae magic, corporate warfare, and a locked-room murder mystery, then threw it all into a glittering mansion full of rich people who absolutely cannot be trusted. And honestly? I had a great time with it.

The setup is immediately addictive. A century ago, magic belonged only to supernatural creatures until the Maddock family figured out how to commercialize it through their trillion-dollar company, Mythos. Now magic is basically a luxury product for the elite, and the Maddocks are sitting at the center of all that wealth and power. During a lavish weekend event unveiling a new magical breakthrough tied to immortality, Valentina’s father suddenly collapses, Valentina is poisoned with a deadly blood curse, and suddenly everyone in the family is fighting for control of the empire. It’s messy, dramatic, and full of backstabbing in the best way.

Valentina absolutely carries this book. She’s ambitious, stubborn, morally gray, and honestly not always likable, which made me like her even more. The book never tries to soften her sharp edges or turn her into some perfect fantasy heroine. She wants power, believes she deserves it, and makes questionable decisions constantly. But underneath all of that arrogance there’s still vulnerability, especially as the blood curse slowly starts killing her while her entire family circles around the CEO position like vultures.

The family dynamics were honestly one of my favorite parts. The tension between Valentina and her brother Jude is so well done. At first it feels like pure resentment and rivalry, but the deeper the story goes, the more complicated and emotional their relationship becomes. You slowly start realizing there’s a lot more underneath all their fighting, and I really loved where that storyline ended up.

And then there’s Luc, the mysterious vampire guest who may or may not be helping Valentina for reasons of his own. I really liked that he wasn’t just there to be a hot vampire love interest. He actually adds to the mystery and constantly keeps you questioning everyone’s motives. The vampire lore in general was fantastic; it was seductive, dangerous, powerful, and refreshingly original without feeling like recycled paranormal romance tropes.

The writing itself is really lush and atmospheric too. Mathewson leans hard into the decadence of wealth, magic, and immortality, and the entire book feels glamorous but rotten underneath. There’s this constant sense that everyone is hiding secrets and waiting for someone else to slip first.

That said, the book does occasionally get a little tangled in its own complexity. Some of the magical politics and flashbacks could get confusing, and there were moments where Valentina’s long reflections slowed the pacing down enough that I forgot what was actively happening in the present timeline. Luc also felt a little underdeveloped for parts of the story until much later on.

Still, those were pretty minor issues compared to how much fun I had overall. “The Age of Blood and Magic” is dramatic, sharp, stylish, and full of messy rich people behaving terribly while supernatural chaos explodes around them. If you like morally gray characters, family power struggles, corporate fantasy worlds, vampires with actual personality, and fantasy mysteries with a darker edge, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss+ for the ARC.

The Age of Blood and Magic: A Dark Fantasy Debut of a Vampire-Ruled Empire and the Fight for Its Throne seeks to answer the age-old question of “what happens when you trap two feuding heirs, a dying patriarch, a distant mother, and a handful of the world’s most elite families in a grand and enchanted estate?” Oh, and why not throw in a few vampires just to keep things interesting?

Magic is a commodity and death a great inconvenience to the ultra-wealthy.

Paranoid heir to the Mythos empire and descendant of the great Martin Maddock, Valentina Maddock, has been murdered.

Good news! She’s not dead yet, and there’s a charming and mysterious Vampire who wants to help her solve the case. Even better - they’re on magical lockdown so no suspect can leave the estate.

Bad news: She really doesn’t have long left to live. She’s deathly afraid of vampires. Her half-brother/cousin wants to ruin everything she has built. Also her untimely demise would be a really bad look for the company when they’re hoping to launch their new product - Immortality.

That is quite the premise, and The Age of Blood and Magic certainly delivers on all the paranoia, capitalism, betrayal and scandal it promises.

Unfortunately, though, it didn’t really click for me.

I have no problems with an unlikeable, unreliable or flawed narrator, but something about Valentina’s particular brand rubbed me the wrong way. My feelings changed more towards the end of the story as she developed, but it was a frustrating road to get there.

Why does an aspiring CEO of a magical empire have no interest in how their products are made? Why does someone we are repeatedly told is so well educated and well suited for the role have zero functional understanding of the other magical races she shares a world with? Reading deeper into it, we can see that she really isn’t interested in anything beyond the title and “winning” the succession, but the way it is executed feels less intentional and more like a slightly clumsy medium for exposition for the reader.

I very much enjoyed our cast of shady characters, and there was just enough intrigue to keep me hooked. Valentina and Jude’s relationship, in particular, made for a very compelling emotional core to the book. But the more I thought about the setting and the world-building and the magic system, the more it fell apart for me.

The pacing also felt a little off for me, with 90% of the story being the slow unravelling of characters with lots of time for introspection and flashbacks, and the final 10% feeling like it came from an entirely different story.

Still, even if I found it was more glitter than substance, I got through The Age of Blood and Magic very quickly and am sure it will find its readers. There is certainly a lot to recommend, and it does feel very different from other urban fantasy novels I have read of late. I think that is worth celebrating.

Three day lock-in at a luxury estate, anyone?

[Jasmine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I picked this up because I thought there was potential with the premise - magic, vampires, a succession war, a murder mystery - all seem like ingredients to create a fast-paced, intriguing story. Unfortunately, the characters are one-dimensional and they don’t act consistently. The magic system and world-building is not fully thought out. There was too much telling and exposition, and not enough showing.

One of my biggest gripes with the story is the main protagonist. Valentina is arrogant, entitled, and incompetent. She has a host of daddy and mommy issues that she constantly whines about and has the charisma of a cardboard box. Because the story is written as a first person POV from her point of view, it became absolutely unbearable to read. It felt like watching a headless chicken running in circles, pretending to be a top apex predator. For a murder mystery to work properly, the person solving it should be somewhat competent or at least be charismatic or entertaining. Unfortunately, Valentina has none of these characteristics. She also annoyingly sounds like a teenager even though she is supposed to be 23. This is largely exacerbated by the fact that she refers to her father as “Daddy.” Furthermore, she is so ignorant of everything that I struggled to believe that she was ready to be the CEO of a monopoly that controls the world. She doesn’t have the technical knowledge of the magical products of the company (she herself states that she isn’t interested in the research or technical side of the magic), nor does she have the charisma to be leading the business arm of the company. She also has no knowledge of the other magical creatures that are supposedly in conflict with humanity. So what makes her worthy or ready to be the heir? I have no clue. And finally, she has no backbone to take a real stance on things.

My second biggest complaint with the story is that the magic, worldbuilding, and logic of the story is not properly thought out, nor is it particularly imaginative. Here is a line explaining how the magic works: “The spell programs uploaded to the production lab hardware for manufacturing to begin, and it was imbued into tonics and vapors and what have you.” Excuse me, what do you mean by “what have you?” Furthermore, why is this powerful magic system controlled by an app? I think if we have this powerful magic that has transformed the world, we can be a little more imaginative than having a mobile app control it. Finally, why did we not get anything about the other magical creatures other than the barest, surface level information on them? There are many more details of the story that did not make sense to me, but to get into them would require spoiling the story, so I shall refrain from doing so.

All in all, this story was really messy and just felt like a combination of tropes mashed together.

[kit · Rating 3 out of 5]

To sum this novel up, it is an exploration into the corruption and greediness that spreads through people with money and power and how far they will go to move to the next best thing. All told through a fairly unlikable main character. While I didn’t love this, it kept me intrigued in the plot and at times, I couldn’t put it down.

The writing style generally may have just not been for me but the tension was there and the mystery held me throughout the story. Valentina is very hard to like sometimes, but this is done blatantly on purpose. Some of her transgressions felt a little too obvious in the writing, like hey, here is Valentina showing her privilege! This could probably be said for a lot of the novel’s themes. It is all very on the nose, which isn’t a negative entirely, but it is noticeable. I was honestly way more interested in Jude and Luc instead of Valentina. It was frustrating to read Valentina’s choices regarding Jude and more-so in a way where she continuously made dumb choices I wasn’t sure made sense. I liked the progression of Luc and Valentina in the plot but after a certain plot point and big reveal, I was sorta lost in the grandeur of it and I’m not sure what to think. I don’t think the ending, for Valentina, felt entirely satisfying. I was often confused how many people were actually at the party and struggled to find others interesting besides the ones I listed. Jude was SO interesting and with where he ended, I am just not sure what to think. I'm sure it was on purpose, but I would've liked more resolution with him and Valentina.

There are some deeply detailed descriptions throughout the novel, but at times they didn’t really work for me. The mystery itself is a very strong point in the story. I was able to guess most of it but that didn’t change me from wanting to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. The mechanics of the magic were not very clear to me, but I did like the overall concept of how humans stole magic from actual magic people and how that iced them out from the world. There are a lot of really great ideas here, but I was confused at times.

Definitely an interesting read. If you want to read about a mystery that involves vampires and dismantling of those in power, then this might interest you!

Thank you to NetGalley & William Morrow for the ARC!!! Book publishes Sept. 15, 2026!

[Caitlin Furniss · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Age of Blood and Magic had an intriguing premise, and on paper it sounded like exactly the kind of book I would love.. a glamorous supernatural world filled with vampires, fae, magic, family drama, betrayal and scandal.

I struggled with the world-building. There were so many interesting ideas and magical elements introduced, but I never felt like they were fully developed. The more I thought about the setting and magic system, the more questions I had, and some of the explanations felt more like exposition rather than naturally woven into the story.

I also struggled with Valentina at times. I have no problem with an unlikeable or flawed FMC, but her characterisation felt inconsistent. We’re repeatedly told that she is intelligent, capable and the ideal successor to her father’s empire, yet her actions didn’t reflect that. There were moments where I found myself much more invested in Jude and their relationship, than in Valentina herself. That said, I did find her character became more compelling as the story progressed.

The pacing was another mixed bag for me. Much of the book is a slow unraveling of the characters, with lots of introspection and flashbacks, while the final portion suddenly becomes much more dramatic and fast-paced. It made the ending feel slightly disconnected from the rest of the story.

That being said, there was plenty that I enjoyed. I loved the cast of morally questionable characters, and there was just enough intrigue and scandal to keep me turning the pages. Valentina and Jude’s relationship was probably my favourite aspect, and I thought the book had a really distinctive atmosphere. It also feels quite different from a lot of the urban fantasy I’ve read recently, which I think is worth mentioning.

Ultimately, this was a case of a fantastic premise that didn’t quite deliver for me. There’s definitely a lot of potential here, and I can absolutely see why it will work for other readers.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blending corporate succession war, a locked room mystery and a seductive vampire is no easy task but it comes out in an interestingly pleasant read.

Founded by a mortal, Martin Maddock, who stole the secret of magic from the fairies, witches and vampires, Mythos, has emerged into a trillion dollar industry for its bottled spells. As a group gathers at the Maddox estate to launch a new product, the CEO, Oscar, collapses before the big reveal and his daughter Valentina, must fight her mother, Claudia, and brother, Jude, for the company. A mysterious vampire, Luc Sayle arrives to add spice and enter into a dangerous alliance to save Valentina. Suspects abound as to what happened to Oscar.

The book has fine world building and great character development - you don’t necessarily like them but you do get to know them and whom you’ll love to hate for their elitist swagger and self-serving motivations. The corporate speak is spot on. The descriptions of Fable were lush and perfect for the Maddock world. Pacing could have been better but that doesn’t destroy the read.

I wanted to read this book (my thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for granting me access to this ARC) for the vampires - I love a good vampire story. There are plenty in these in this one because the new Maddock product comes from them. The House Gothenburg is in attendance at the launch party with Luc Sayle as its representative. He’s a romance interest but because the characters are all so unlikable I may have missed this in the reading.

I saw that sine have been calling this as Succession with fangs. Having never watched this TV show, I can’t comment on that except to say there is a corporate theme. But there are lots of fangs to look forward too.

Overall this was an okay read. If you like dark fantasy and reading about unlikable characters as well as rooting for the villain, this one’s for you.

[Bookish Emili Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Age of Blood and Magic by Hannah Mathewson delivers an engaging blend of dark fantasy, political tension, and character-driven storytelling. The book pulls you in with a strong premise and maintains interest through a mix of shifting alliances, power struggles, and personal stakes.
One of the strongest aspects is the worldbuilding. The magic system and political structure feel thoughtfully developed, with clear rules and consequences that shape the story. There is a sense that the world extends beyond the page, which adds weight to the conflicts and decisions the characters face.
The characters themselves are compelling, especially in how their motivations evolve over time. No one feels entirely predictable, and that uncertainty keeps the story engaging. The relationships, both alliances and rivalries, are handled with care and add depth to the plot.
That said, the pacing can be uneven. There are sections where the story slows, particularly when shifting between perspectives or setting up larger plot threads. A bit more tightening in the middle would have made the narrative feel more consistent. Some plot points also take longer than expected to fully pay off.
Even with those issues, the book remains a strong read. It offers a solid mix of intrigue, emotion, and worldbuilding, and it sets up future developments in a way that leaves you interested in what comes next.

[Entisar Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Age of Blood and Magic is such a fun, glittering blend of Succession-style family drama with vampires, curses, and magical corporate intrigue! Set at a lavish party unveiling a magical breakthrough, everything spirals when Valentina's father collapses and she's struck with a deadly blood curse, setting off a messy fight for control of the family empire. I loved the premise, and Luc, the mysterious vampire guest, kept things intriguing without falling into predictable tropes. Valentina makes for such a compellingly morally gray lead, sharp and ambitious rather than a typical soft heroine, and her tangled relationship with her brother Jude gave the story real heart as their rivalry slowly revealed something more complicated underneath. The writing has such a rich, decadent feel, with glamour masking rot just beneath the surface. Where things wobbled a bit for me was the pacing, some stretches moved slowly, and I wanted a touch more clarity around the world-building and magic system. Valentina's characterization also felt inconsistent here and there, and the fae elements left me wanting more. Still, this was such an atmospheric, dramatic read with a lot of heart, even if it didn't quite fully deliver on its wonderful premise.

[Annie Pickford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Age of Blood and Magic. Hannah Mathewson’s writing is the kind that really lingers with you after each page. It is beautifully lyrical and demands to be savoured - perfect for a book about the decadence of wealth and vampirism.

Valentina is such a fascinating character and masterfully written. Here is a character who is truly morally grey, who makes questionable choices and holds stubborn beliefs and thinks unkind things. She felt incredibly real, and I really admired how the author didn’t ever stray into the realm of watering her down.

I was particularly drawn in by her complex relationship with Jude, and by Jude himself. It is a credit to Mathewson’s writing that even as Valentina despises and resents her brother, as the reader you start to see through the cracks in that sibling dynamic - and in Valentina's own beliefs - and realise that there’s something deeper there. Without spoiling anything, I’ll say that where the story took Valentina and Jude felt very satisfying.

And the vampires! Oh, the vampires. I loved their lore, and they felt incredibly seductive and powerful yet deeply original throughout.

I will definitely be recommending this book to a lot of people - it’s a much deserved five stars from me.

[Keeley Ribchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found The Age of Blood and Magic to have such an intriguing premise that I couldn’t wait to dive in and I kept seeing so many people talking about it on posts. It’s a story filled with vampires, magic, family power struggles and mystery and it sounded like it would be right up my street.
The dark atmosphere was one of my favourite parts of the book, and I enjoyed the mix of supernatural elements with the family drama. There were plenty of twists along the way which I loved and I liked that the characters weren’t completely good or bad, which kept me wondering who I should be rooting for as I was reading!
That said I never fully connected with either the story or the characters as much as I wanted too. The pacing felt a little uneven at times and I found myself wanting more depth and clarity when it came to the world building and magic system. While I appreciate the ambition of the story unfortunately I just didn’t become as emotionally invested as I was expecting and wanting to.
Overall it’s an imaginative fantasy with an interesting blend of magic, vampires and succession drama. Although it wasn’t quite the right book for me I think readers who enjoy morally grey characters, dark family intrigue and supernatural mysteries may have a great time with it. I rate it 3.5 ⭐️

[Baee library · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*The Age of Blood and Magic* by Hannah Mathewson is an engaging fantasy novel that blends magic, adventure, and compelling character development. The world-building is rich and imaginative, drawing readers into a fascinating setting filled with intrigue and danger. The characters are well-written, with believable motivations and relationships that keep the story moving forward.

The plot is fast-paced and packed with action, making it difficult to put the book down. Mathewson does an excellent job balancing magical elements with emotional moments, creating a story that feels both exciting and meaningful.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, there were a few moments where the pacing felt uneven, and some plot points could have been explored in greater depth. However, these minor issues didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the story.

Overall, *The Age of Blood and Magic* is a captivating fantasy read that will appeal to fans of magic, adventure, and character-driven storytelling. I would happily recommend it and look forward to reading more from Hannah Mathewson.

[Stacy Riles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won a copy of The Age of Blood and Magic by Hannah Mathewson through a Goodreads giveaway. I entered because the description sounded right up my alley, and I was really intrigued by the premise.

I loved the idea of the magic system and found that part of the story fascinating, but I struggled to connect with the characters. The FMC, Valentina, is portrayed as highly educated and a possible successor to her father’s business, but I had a hard time seeing the skills and confidence needed for that role. A lot of her focus seemed to revolve around becoming the successor rather than demonstrating why she was the right person for it.

I also felt her dialogue came across more like that of an older teenager than a young woman in her position, which made it difficult for me to fully connect with her character.

This story had a lot of potential, and there were definitely elements I enjoyed, but overall it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

[Chelsea Cozy Rebel Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely unlike any story I’ve read.
I found myself enjoying it more and more as it went on and was fully invested to uncover all the mysteries surrounding the family.
They were quite the dysfunctional toxic family, who are fighting for control of a company that was built on magic that wasn’t theirs to begin with. Valentina & Jude are both Toxic & fragile siblings who pretty much hate each other and are fighting over who is the rightful heir to the mansion, and company.
Valentina’s mother & Mythos throw a party to sell their new spell to their wealthiest clients, when a mysterious vampire shows up! The weekend party was a mix between a murder mystery, & an elite hunger games party mixed together for what might be the deadliest party ever. The Wealthy guests will literally do anything to become immortal. All while Valentina the FMC is struggling to find out who cursed her, and the truth of what really happened to her father.
Thank you to the publisher, Hannah Matthewson, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 🫶🏼

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy.

The Age of Blood and Magic follows Valentina Maddock as she tries to solve the mystery behind who poisoned her and killed her comatose father during a swanky weekend at the launch of her family company’s greatest achievement.

The whodunnit plot immerses itself in a world full of vampires, fairies, and human greed. Valentina—at first unlikable—grew on me as the story progressed and the character development of the cast was well done.

My gripes were that occasionally the story got confusing and Luc’s character felt extremely flat until the very end. Additionally, Valentina would often reflect on something in the past for so long that I forgot what was happening in the present.

That said, the book is well written, thought provoking, and unique in concept. A fantastic debut into the adult category for the author.

[Misty Calloway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. The Age of Blood and Magic is basically Succession, but with vampires, fae, and enough magical corporate drama to keep things deliciously unhinged. I had a great time with the locked-room mystery setup, the wealthy-awful-people energy, and all the backstabbing (sometimes seemingly literal).

The magic system was a standout for me: magic being bottled, sold, and treated like both technology and a status symbol gives the whole world a really distinctive edge. It makes the power struggles feel bigger and more personal at the same time.

Dark, glossy, and a little over-the-top in the best way—definitely recommended if you like twisty paranormal fantasy, morally questionable characters, and eat-the-rich chaos.

[Katie Cammarata · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I did not like any of the characters (and actually rooted for the “villain” for most of the book), they had depth. Each character had their own reasons for acting the way they did, be it a loveless relationship or generational trauma.
The descriptions of Fable were gorgeous, and I felt that I was living in a (Grimm’s) fairytale the night of the masquerade.
The pacing was a little slow at times, but it felt intentional. We were luxuriating just like the characters. Valentina was anxious, so we had to be too.
I do feel like I need to reread this book to really appreciate the set up from the very beginning.

[JulieChristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Corporate magic! Gotta give props for originality to this standalone novel that brilliantly weaves together family dysfunction, corporate espionage and fantastical, elitist greed. Join the Maddock family for a weekend retreat of not-so-quiet debauchery as they launch the new family product line - a spell that can change someone's life... forever. It's a high-stakes mystery with more than a few secrets to unravel, and with vampires, curses, and the haughtiest of the wealthy class involved, the characters may just learn some dark truths of their own too.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Publishing for this ARC.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich people controlling magic like it’s a status symbol… what could go wrong?

The Age of Blood and Magic is full of messy family drama, power grabs, and a main character who is very much not the good guy—and I loved it. Valentina is ambitious, reckless, and slowly dying from a curse while fighting for control of her family’s empire. It’s chaotic, dramatic, and a little toxic in the best way. I was hooked.
If you like messy characters, toxic family drama, and dark magic, pick this up.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dysfunctional family fighting for control of a company built on stolen magic. Even magic isn’t safe from capitalism! Rivaling siblings going at each other over who is the rightful heir to the sprawling mansion, and company. Mythos throws a party to sell their new spell to their wealthiest clients, add a mysterious vampire into the mix, and what could go wrong? The characters are so wealthy and out of touch with reality, their greed will make them do anything to become immortal. While one is struggling to find who cursed her, and the truth of what happened to her father.

[Steven M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgallery and Harper Collins for the early copy of this.

The Age of Blood and Magic is an amazing book. It balances a locked room mystery, succession drama, vampires and more in a chaotic and great plot.

It tells an easy to imagine tale of how the rich would commodify magic if they could and the consequences of it.

The main character toes that line of interesting but also detestable so well at time you don't know whether to root for them or just enjoy the drama.

4.5 stars excellent read!

[Jessica Gregg · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC recieved from netgalley
3/5 stars

A fantastic storyline that I enjoyed, I did find myself getting a bit lost in the middle. The start and ending strong!
All about a world build on magic for the celbs & elite in the world, where a new spell/tonic is being revealed, and things start to go wrong.
I found the main character hard to relate to sadly. A grown woman who acted quite immature, but in a desperate war to take over a ceo of her dads company. It was slightly confusing sadly.

Overall a good story ❤️

[Debbie Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading the exciting and engaging paranormal story. When Valentina's dad has a stroke and is dying, Valentina is devastated, has to attend her mom's party of selling immortality to the rich, wants to become the CEO, doesn't get along with her brother, Jude, and when Valentina is given a deadly blood curse and dying, Luc, a vampire, tries to help Valentina. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written full of mystery and suspense, and a must read riveting story.

[Charisa Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. This book had me from the very beginning, a man trading his kid for magic? And there’s vampires too? Yes please! And it just got better from there. I liked the character of Valentina. She fwlt rwal and had flaws. She had all these preconcieved notiond about her family that slowly unravelled rheough rhe book. The mystery that was the main plot kept me interested til the end. I will definitley recommend this book to others.

[Jennifer King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading the title, seeing the cover art and reading the description, I thought this book was going to be something I would absolutely love but sadly I didn't.
Oddly I found the story itself moved at a snails pace, sort of like there was too much background/world building. I'm the kind of person who likes books that just throws you in right away. All the details made it rather more confusing than anything, if that makes sense lol.
The story definitely had potential but just not for me I guess.

[Shae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was fortunate to win this book in one of the Goodreads giveaways.

It was a good story, overall. I liked that you couldn’t immediately figure out all of the connections. However, I also feel that some of the connections weren’t fully covered. It seemed like something was missing with the vampire background.

It was an interesting story and a fairly quick read.

[Meghan Buchman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic! Intrigue! Vampires! Fairies! This story has it all and keeps you reading til your eyelids droop.

All of the above are my favorite genre. The author combines all of them and hits it out of the park. The ending is superb. My heart raced to see what was happening. Comuppence is an understatement.

Definitely a must read.