Blade of Two Faces

by Blake Blessing

Never send a man to do a woman's job. Mulan meets Gladiator in this explosive why-choose romantasy!

This program features multicast narration.

When I fled from the rotting kingdom of Mador, there was only one thought on my mind—survive.

For too long the king, my brother, has kept me underneath his iron rule, his abuse, and after years as his captive I’ve finally escaped… barely.

But the outside world may be no better…

The world’s provinces are colliding in the Imperial Trials—offering men a chance to compete for their mate… and the crown.

If there’s any hope for a new life, I’ll have no choice but to hide right in the middle of it.

My greatest threats? Four ruthless heirs, each with a hidden agenda of their own. Not that it matters.

I’ll enjoy being their ruin.

May the most cunning and ruthless candidate win—or die trying.

A Macmillan Audio production from Bramble Books

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Audiobook, Why Choose, Dark, Adult

Audible Audio

Expected publication November 17, 2026

About the author

Blake Blessing is just a working mom that loves art in all forms, and all genres of romance. Although she enjoys writing romance of the steamier variety.

Reviews

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

(arc reading) - So I really liked the heavy Disney Mulan vibe (Marin!) and I liked the story as a whole but there were issues. The shift between the start of the book and after Ellis makes her move almost gave me whiplash. It didn’t feel like the same book and we barely even mentioned that first part for the rest of the story?
I also feel like some decisions didn’t make sense and the trials were okayish at best.

Now and this is a spoiler, let’s talk about the romance which is actually my main grief.

I was not AT ALL convinced by the romance. This is an extra slow burn DARK ROMANCE featuring things I hate : cruelty between partners, dub or non consent, violence without any prior discussion. Barely anything happened in the book as it’s setting up the future romance but the few bits we had disgusted me. I didn’t mind that it will be a why choose, I actually like it but I hated every single one of the guys. As individuals they could have been alright but not in ANY romantic setting.
I sadly won’t read book 2, especially because of the very last scene which could be heavily triggering. I hope the book will feature TWs, the very beginning was hard as well.

[Nicole is Reading Fantasy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blade of Twincest

[Lia Carstairs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay ngl that ending was creepy and disturbing as hell but ignoring that... this was fun! I can't wait to see where this series is heading (especially with the relationships!).

Oh but did this get me hooked!! I had high expectations (I mean come on its a Mulan-inspired why-choose?!) going into this and I'm happy to say that I adored it! The way my heart was beating so fast so many times throughout the book??? GUYS this is what I've been missing from reading lately omg😩

One thing I was not expecting was a SA scene so early on so giving a warning to anyone who plans on reading this book that it happens within the first few chapters! And make sure to check all other TWs!!

Now the characters. Absolutely loved the FMC, Ellis!!!!! Her character and growth were 100% the highlight of this book. It may have been very little but it's something considering how she started. From the moment we meet her I just wanted to give her a hug and wow did she suffer. I loved seeing Ellis gain more confidence and stand up for herself and others even when she was terrified. And yes she made ridiculous decisions but at least she was self-aware lol?? Also I could understand her reasoning most of the time even though I didn't like it but it's just part of her character. This is only the beginning and I cannot wait to see her character develop more.

And the guys... please this is such a slow-burn. And knowing that this is a 4 book series... wow that's going to be such a ride because right now I totally cannot picture them all in love. The romance was definitely not the focus in this book as they all hate each other like it's insane omg. The amount of times three of them tried killing her???😭 Zave pissed me off the most honestly (also wth was that one POV chapter?!) but I do see the potential in his character development!! He has a lot to deal with, especially with overcoming his self-hatred and with being more confident. Xanth sucks. Veric also sucks. BUT KILLIAN HELLO. I love him. He was the only not-awful guy but tbf he had his reasons so it's not like he was being sweet just for the sake of it LOL. Still counts for something though!! I need more interactions between him and Ellis ASAP🙏 But to be honest, all the guys are very much not fleshed out at all, but it leaves room for all that to happen in the next book hopefully!

Also regarding the side characters, I loved Bren so so much!!! She's such a cool character, I adored her friendship with Ellis so much. The female friendship was everything and I need more of it too. But can I just say... why was I lowkey hoping Orryn would be a love interest🆘 LISTEN I know he's a red flag (tbh they all are) and is giving bad vibes but there's something about his cunningness that is calling to me😩 I know it's unlikely to happen but I'm rooting for you Orryn.

The worldbuilding was really interesting!! A small complaint I do have is sometimes things seemed all over the place with explanations?? Some stuff were glossed over a bit but I know this is only book 1, so I definitely can't wait to see how things expand!! I have so many questions oh my gosh. Like the magic in certain people????? I NEED ANSWERS.

Thank you Tor for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

[EmJustReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this a solid 4 star rating!!

Drawbacks up front:

It felt long (or maybe just the fact that we cover so much plot).
It’s marketed as a why choose, but we didn’t really get to much romance in this book

I really enjoyed this story, and it was definitely a good comparison to Mulan, and maybe a cross with the Hunger Games? Or another story with a tournament/ trials that are life threatening.

My highlights:

I LOVE and adore the familiar.
The magic system and hair colors are neat
I liked the mystery of not knowing some character’s power
The MMC who’s basically out of his mind, and is obsessed with our main character
Some different POVs, but most of them are from our FMC
Feminine rage *extra heavy in this universe*

I can’t wait for the next book because I really want to see where it goes (especially the love interests)

Check the trigger warnings, there is a messed up situation at the beginning. But I think it makes the FMC’s experience and trauma very clear so you understand where she’s coming from.

I received an ARC/ ALC from the publisher, but these are my honest opinions.

[Kamryn · Rating 0.25 out of 5]

DNF at 43%

Do not read this book… if you choose to read this book, please look up the trigger warnings because they are not discussed anywhere.

Seriously, do not read this book

[Shannon K G · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

I liked the beginning. Not the actions themselves in the beginning, but the expectations I was building in my head for the remainder of the book. I was intrigued by the idea of a Mulan retelling.
Unfortunately as soon as she left and the trials began it fell flat. Each trial became a continuous loop of the FMC being a target, being the weakest link, but somehow coming out in high standing. I had to force myself to finish this.
Her plan was vague and impulsive. Thinking she is somehow the best choice as ruler of a world she knows nothing of culturally or historically just makes her delulu.
We're told the MMC's are bad, but never really given a lot about why or how. Also, their chapters felt off. I usually prefer multi pov because I get a more expanded view on the world being built, but I didn't get that here. They didn't really add much to the story.
And if this is supposed to be a why choose romance, the romance is non existent. You get bully moment after bully moment and nothing else. The beginning had a lot of ick, but felt like it would build to something better, but the beginning feels forgotten about and the end just ends with a big ole ick in a brand new way. I'm sorry, but that last chapter was absolutely disgusting and I'll never be able to accept any romance later on if thats the intent.

On a positive, I did like the familiar.

Thank you netgalley, tor, and bramble for the ebook. All opinions are my own.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with a group of gals who either powered through (like me) or DNF’d but the consensus was: Trauma, Thugs and a Whole Lot of WTF..

Trigger warnings bc there was NONE in the physical and digital ARCs: s*xual assault, attempted r*pe, emotional and physical abuse, twincest, coercion, victim blaming and slu*t-shaming to name a few. There is a lot of s*x but none from the FMC.

You know when you expect Mulan meets Gladiator with a little enemies-to-lovers spice and instead get 400+ pages of trauma, torture and men who desperately need therapy? Yeah. Welcome to Blade of Two Faces.
Our FMC, Ellis, escapes her abusive brother, disguises herself as a man and promptly lands herself in deadly trials surrounded by four ruthless heirs who apparently communicate exclusively through violence and bad decisions.

The world is brutally misogynistic, s*xual violence is disturbingly normalized. Chapter 6 nearly had me throwing in the towel. Please check your triggers before reading! The biggest ICK for me was after every trial, the candidates were taken to the hot springs and were served with plates of food and women. Women who were paid more in food/coin depending on how many they f*cked. Sure some were there by choice bc that’s all they knew but some were there so they could have food or coin to survive.

The frustrating part? I COULD NOT look away like it was the worst car accident I’ve ever seen. I kept thinking it has to get better, right? No, it did not. Ellis is resilient, the competition is intense. But the world building is confusing, the politics need explaining and the supposed enemies-to-lovers romance is… non-existent with a side of absolutely the hell NOT. It read more like a bully romance. One MMC crosses a line that made me question HOW romance could even be a reasonable endgame???

My biggest issue is that the book repeatedly throws s*xual violence at the reader without exploring its themes as deeply as it could. We get it, the world is awful. Can we unpack the patriarchy instead of adding trauma after trauma. At some point, it just felt like the author threw in the shock factor just for giggles.

Messy, frustrating, I'm annoyed, emotionally exhausted and the more I think about this book, the more annoyed I get…

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of an advance copy received from NetGalley

The first thing I have to say is that this was a page-turner. I finished it in a single day. I’m a sucker for trials and a good why choose romance, so I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

One of my favorite aspects was Ellis. Rather than letting her trauma define her, she used it as motivation to keep pushing forward. She never fell into the trap of feeling sorry for herself, which made her easy to root for. The story also blended several fantasy elements I love familiars, magic, deadly trials, and political intrigue.

I especially enjoyed the banter between Ellis and her familiar. Having that companion alongside her in an unfamiliar world added both humor and heart.

That said, I think the story would have benefited from more worldbuilding. I don’t mind mysteries or unanswered questions that are meant to unfold over a series, but many of the foundational details felt glossed over. I often found myself confused rather than intrigued because there wasn’t enough context to fully understand the world, its history, or how everything fit together. I actually wish the book had been longer so those elements could have been explored more deeply.

The multiple POVs at the beginning also caught my attention, but after the first few chapters they largely disappeared. With such a large cast, continuing those perspectives would have helped me connect with the male leads and better understand their motivations.

While this is marketed as a why choose romance, I personally didn’t feel much of the romance yet. There was plenty of tension and lingering glances, but not enough emotional development for me to become invested in the relationships. I think developing one romantic connection earlier, particularly with Killian, who was the most compelling male character to me would have strengthened both the romance and the story. It also could have naturally revealed more about Ellis’s past and the larger conflict through someone she trusted.

Several side characters also felt underdeveloped. Laith’s appearance near the end didn’t have the emotional impact it seemed intended to because I never felt like I knew enough about him. I wanted more insight into the dynamics between the male characters, their families, and the reasons behind their desire for revenge. I was also intrigued by Marin and found myself wishing for more hints about why he was absent for so much of the story.

There were also several pieces of lore that felt like they appeared without enough setup. The twins’ bond, the mating bond, the significance of various locations, and even some of the world’s terminology often felt as though I had missed an earlier explanation. For example, learning the consequences of the twins’ mating bond much earlier would have made the trials feel even more meaningful and increased the emotional stakes.

The darker content also felt somewhat abrupt. Trigger warnings don’t usually bother me, but some of the sexual elements, particularly involving Zave and Ellis, felt like they arrived without enough buildup. More gradual development would have made those moments feel more impactful.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed this book. The characters, magic system, and overall premise were incredibly interesting, and I never lost the desire to keep turning the pages. I simply wanted more! More worldbuilding, more character depth, more romance, and more time to fully immerse myself in the story.

I’m looking forward to the sequel and hope it expands on the fascinating foundation this first book created. I can’t wait to learn more about the world, the characters, and what happens next.

[Kala lubbers · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Thoughts:

Cover is gorgeous
I love a good retelling
Mulan Inspired/ SIGN ME UP

Book Blurb:

Never send a man to do a woman's job. Mulan meets Gladiator in this explosive why-choose romantasy!

When I fled from the rotting kingdom of Mador, there was only one thought on my mind—revenge.
For too long the king, my brother, has kept me underneath his iron rule, and I’m hellbent on getting justice for the years I’ve spent as his captive. But the outside world is on the brink of a complete upheaval.
The world’s provinces are colliding in the Imperial Trials—offering men a chance to compete for their mate… and the crown.
If there’s any hope for my plans, I’ll need to put myself right in the middle of it.
My greatest threats? Four ruthless heirs, each with a hidden agenda of their own. Not that it matters.
I’ll enjoy being their ruin.
May the most cunning and ruthless candidate win—or die trying.

The review:

There is a lot to unpack here. First 10% has some strong sexual assault going on. CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS. The rest of the book is mainly bullying but there is SA and sexual themes throughout the book.
I wouldn't say this is very Mulan like or inspired by Mulan really. Similarities include a creature and our main character disguising herself as a man. That's where the similarities end. It is not a retelling!
This book is chaos and I am truly not sure if I loved it or hated it. I think there is a lot going on with the plot. I didn't feel like some of the scenes were fleshed out very well. Some things did not make any sense at all. In the beginning none of what is going on is really explained. The crypt scene did not make sense. The way her brother came into power did not make sense. Her brother is obviously twisted and it leads you to believe something sinister happened so that he became in power. Although there are no clues to what that is. Which I find frustrating. He is obviously going to play some sort of role in the future of the series but right now as a character I don't even feel like he made a compelling bad guy. Like he was twisted and awful but again there wasn't any fear there. Like in the scenes he was in the fmc was just so compliant and there was no emotion. The main SA scene is disturbing don't get me wrong but it was basically just words on paper there was little to know emotion. Since this scene is such a terrifying event I wanted to feel fear and I just felt like the writing was stale.
She runs away and is basically useless at surviving and a familiar creature bonds with her and saves her. I assume here that this creature is supposed to be her Mushu if we are still saying this is inspired by Mulan. The creature saves her and convinces her to go into a kingdom where she disguises herself as a man so that she doesn't have to worry about being used as a female. But unfortunately she finds herself thrown into mandatory trials to find the next ruler and so that men can find their female mates. After that she is basically almost killed in every other chapter. And our familiar creature is no help at all. The trials are I suppose interesting but I feel like they were pretty rushed.
Now this book is a why choose so there is 4 love interest. Because they are in the trials these men are trying to kill her. Every single one of them. But all of them feel some sort of connection or spark or curiosity and they are all trying to figure out why. The men really didn't capture my attention at all. The author gave us enough to make us curious but this first book wasn't about the men it was about our FMC growth. Let me tell you that growth is where this book hits. The whole book we are shown that in these kingdoms females are less then and made to serve and our submissive FMC now has the opportunity as a man to change how males treat women. Truly am not sure I would have liked this book if It had not had not have been for our FMC character growth. She went from shrinking and being submissive to truly fighting for herself and others. I wont spoil it by saying more than that but her story arc is fantastic.
Last 20-25% of the book is why the rating is high. We see all our characters really transform on the page and get a little peak into their minds. We really see how far Ellis has come and the cliff hanger leaves you wanting more.
Because this is the first book of the series I feel like the world building was really good. I found the character development lacking but I think that the characters will flesh out more in the contiuation of the series and I am hopeful for the second book.

Predictions:

I do have a prediction for the storyline of the next book and I hope that I am incorrect because it may ruin it for me. I think Cale will betray her and reveal that she is a woman and she will be forced to compete in the female version of the trials or that he will try to force her as his mate. I hope none of that happens because that would truly suck.

Read if you like:
Enemies-to-lovers
Forced proximity
dark romance
dark fantasy
High Stakes
gladiator style competition
multiple love interests
why choose
hidden powers

There are some triggers in the book including:
Anxiety & anxiety attacks
Blood & gore
Classism
Dead bodies
Death of a parent
Dysphoria
Emotional abuse
Explicit (consensual) sexual content
Explicit (non-consensual) sexual content
Fire
violence
Involuntary confinement
Knife & sword violence
Physical injuries
Physical assault
References familial death
Profanity
Violence

[Leanna · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this dark Mulan-inspired romantasy, and I loved the relationship with the familiar. The magic and the high-stakes trials added a lot of fun to the story, and I liked the mystery around the characters’ abilities.

Check the trigger warnings before starting. The creepy brother situation at the beginning gave me a serious ick, and this is definitely a dark why-choose romance.

The story lagged in places, and I wanted more from the romances. Still, I enjoyed it and thought it was a solid read. If you like dark why-choose romantasy, this one is worth checking out. The audiobook was well done I recommend it!

[Girlzgottaread · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Mulan, y'all... I love why choose. I love romantasy. So whyyy didn't this work for me?? 😭

All the elements were there..and in the first few chapters I actually thought we might be going somewhere..but past chapter 8, I really started struggling.

First... Where was the romance?? Because this basically read like a bully romance sans romance. So.. Just bullying 😂😭 the MMCs spend so much of the book being cruel or outright wanting to kill her that I never got the tension or chemistry I needed to believe these were somehow eventually going to be romantic relationships.. And listen y'all, I'm a why choose girlie. I've read a LOT do them. Multiple MMCs and POVs can absolutely work.. But here it made the story feel sooo disjointed. I never spent enough time with any mmcs to even really connect with them.

The trials were another struggle for me.. she would somehow pull something off or suddenly know exaaaaactly what to do and I kept thinking... Wait, HOW? 😂 I LOVE a capable fmc, but I neeeed to understand how she became capable.. A lot of her wins felt more convenient than convincing, and that made it hard for me to believe!

I also wanted so much more from the world because again this was sold to me as dark romantasy so I'm expecting world building. There were some genuinely interesting ideas but nothing came together enough to give me a reason to care about the kingdom, the tournament, the characters or their relationships.

I think between that and the lack of romance this book lost me so hard😭

[Audiobooksgirlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutal Trials and Unfinished Business

This is one of those books where I almost need the second installment before I can fully assess the first.

The opening is deeply jarring, but it gives Ellis a convincing reason to risk everything. Sometimes a character’s motivation for entering dangerous trials feels flimsy. Here, the desperation makes sense. What she is escaping gives real weight to her willingness to survive what comes next.

Where I struggled was the sense of two parallel stories that didn’t quite connect. The brutality of the beginning and ending felt removed from portions of the middle. That middle is hardly gentle, but the extremes on either side made the shifts difficult to reconcile.

The Mulan comparison also sets up expectations that didn’t match my experience. Beyond Ellis disguising herself as a man, that wasn’t the connection I felt. Anyone arriving with Disney in mind is in for a considerable shock. Personally, I’d put this closer to The Hunger Games meets Mortal Kombat.

The world building wasn’t difficult for me to follow on audio. Keeping the men straight was another matter. There’s Killan and Veric, alongside identical twins Xanth and Zave. It took until around 75% before I felt confident about who was who and how everyone fit into the romantic picture. Having twins among the four makes those distinctions particularly important. Apparently, even fictional dating requires administrative support.

The romance also asks a lot of the reader. Ellis has a level of self awareness that makes the men’s impulsive cruelty and emotional immaturity particularly difficult to sit with. Their behaviour goes well beyond being difficult or morally grey. The line between love and hate is certainly being explored, but the violence made that dynamic unsettling for me, especially towards the end.

Marin, however, was a highlight. A familiar doesn’t automatically improve a story, but his personality and commentary worked beautifully here. He often seemed to be having the same reaction to the men that I was.

For all my reservations, the trials were genuinely well done. They kept me invested and gave this first installment a strong foundation. Four stars for that experience, with plenty of curiosity about whether book two will bring the pieces together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listening copy.

[Billi · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 2.5/5 ⭐️
𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮 4/5🌶️

Blade of Two Faces by Blake Blessing

I feel like the premise was intriguing but unfortunately I was not a fan of the execution. I liked the narration and thought the audiobook was well done but I didn’t really love the story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book via NetGalley.

I knew this was a dark romantic fantasy but I didn’t realize how dark the content was. I don’t remember seeing any content warnings or if they were mentioned in the beginning of the audiobook. Honestly didn’t like the main character of any of the MMC’s. Maybe a me problem? I do not know. Not a fan of that last chapter at all. I don’t think I will continue this series. I highly highly recommend looking into any trigger/content warnings before reading this.

[Morgan | bookish_morgano · Rating 5 out of 5]

TO BE CONTINUED?!

I received this ALC from Macmillan Audio. All honest thoughts are my own.

I absolutely DEVOURED this book! This is my first Blake Blessing book and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

This book starts DARK DARK. Please check the TW because we start dark fast. (If you need to chat, DM me on Insta.)
Blake absolutely nails the 'make us hate the bad guy' energy.

AUDIO: Full-cast DUAL audio; the narrators were fantastic and held my attention the entire book.

This is the beginning of a 4 book series and honestly I am GNAWING AT MY ENCLOSURE to know what happens next!

What to expect:
- Why Choose
- Mulan retelling
- Creature sidekick
- Trials
- 4 x MMCs
- Rivals to Enemies
- Secret Powers

[BookishKB]

⚔️👑 Blade of Two Faces 👑⚔️

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Why Choose Romance
• Deadly Trials
• Hidden Identity
• Enemies to Lovers
• Royal Intrigue
• Warrior FMC
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: November 17, 2026
Thank you to Bramble, Tor Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Grem Reeds]

An ARC was freely provided to me by Tor - thank you!

Though I thoroughly enjoyed the premise, Blade of Two Faces ended up not being for me. I agonized over the decision to DNF at 22%, but after two separate tries, I think it's time.

The writing tech in this is good, aside from stylistic fragment sentences. (But I think that's kinda a style in the genre right now?) My big issue is the author using a ton - I mean, SO MANY - anachronisms that violently pulled me out of reading. “Now we're cooking.” Being ‘extra sloshed,’ as in drunk. Somewhere having a ‘welcoming vibe,’ and so on.

It's just not what I'm looking for in a fantasy story that doesn't take place in current day. If it did, I'd have no issue.

I was FASCINATED by the Mulan comparison; I loved it as a kid and continue to enjoy it well into adulthood (my most quoted bit is ‘king of the rock,’ followed closely by Mushuu's shame speech) but this… Didn't land well for me. At least until I decided to DNF. I have hopes that it'll get better, and would like to revisit this title some day.

The Mushuu-alike and the humorous back and forth between them and the FMC felt like a one-to-one, instead of using the original as inspiration and building off of it. I'm not saying it's a rip, or the awful P word, just that I expected the author to have a more unique twist on it. Instead, it's the same humor I liked as a kid. That's great, but I wanted more. It, and most other things about the book, felt very YA to me. Which, no hate at ALL, but it's not what I expected from an adult romantasy.

This would also REALLY benefit from listing CW/TWs.

[East of Reality · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trigger warnings for: emotional abuse, physical abuse, attempted rape, sexual assault, slut shaming, victim blaming,

The world building leaves … something to be desired. Why, in the capital city, seat of the kingdom, are there only two wood carvers? The dangerous forest filled with monsters is ridiculously close to the castle, close enough that the princess — injured and exhausted — can get there in a handful of hours, and the enemy city of Ograth is barely a day’s walk through the woods to get to.

So the border of these two rival kingdoms is a forest. A very skinny one. And on either side of this forest, on either side, is the castle of a ruling king. That’s not silly, it’s stupid. It’s lazy. And it speaks of how much care and attention is going to be into the rest of this book’s world building, which is to say, none.

In this book there is a city where a selection of men is happening. One of the fifty or so will be crowned, the rest … well, they can die or not depending on how good they are. As I said, lazy. In this book every man with one or two exceptions is a rapist. Every woman, give or take one or two, is a whore. The women are looked down on, the men are ignored — because rape is so normal in this world no one cares.

At the end of every successful round of contest/combat, the men are given a selection of women — poor, starving, lower caste women who are told that the more men they let fuck them, the more food they’ll be given; or coin. This is rape though coercion. Now, I will say, our main character — Ellis — hates this as much as I do. But my point is that there is no real purpose here beyond showing how badly women are treated. And I get it. I keep getting it. But the book never gets tired of telling me how horrible it is to be a woman in this world.

It’s a book of tedious brutality against women (and I’m getting tired of how many of those there are). Bad people are mean, and good people are good, and there’s never a thought or comprehension of nuance. The writing is patchy. Some if it reads easily, and then there are the moments where the thesaurus and the inspiration from other books shows through and we have our main character staring at someone’s pillows … and it took me a minute to figure out she meant his lips, not his ass. Or his boobs.

And yet. And yet.

I read the whole thing. This book is a greasy potato chip. I ate it, didn’t like a lot of it, and wanted more than I was given. I wanted some consideration of gender dynamics or politics, and got more sexual assault. I wanted some commentary on the violence these men use to communicate, the way they use aggression and torture … and got more torture. Five big hulking men — I think we’re working to a harem — are going to kill the small and skinny Ellis because it takes five grown man to kill him. Congrats on being thugs.

And yet these thugs — including one who sexually assaults Ellis — are going to be the love interests. I hate the story. I didn’t mind Ellis as a character. I hate the story, but devoured the book. I hate the story, but … I’ll probably look for book two, much the way I might grab another handful of chips. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[B.E.Love · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Ellis has only know brutality in her life in one of the worst violations possible Ellis lives. Her grandmother cared but she is gone and living this life is no longer something she can take. So finding her chance she flee's, now Ellis wants revenge and the only way is to become the ruler. But woman can't rule so Ellis decides to disguise herself as a man and enter the trials. Once she wins her brother will pay and she will rule fairly. Entering works better than Ellis could have guessed but competing to the death with men who have trained their whole lives while hiding who she is may be the end of Ellis, if the rivalry and doing better than expected doesn't.

This was a great spin on Mulan with so many interesting and great additions, Mulan wishes her story could be this good. I'm not going to lie there are some very dark storylines in this book however the author handles them very well and the story builds around them making Ellis who she is. We also get other competitors point of views in the book which I loved because we see what they are thinking and what they really want. Starting the story you think you have it figured out till you continue on reading and see everyone has their own stories and plans. These characters are not one dimensional they have layers and a life that made them and plans of their own that rule them.

I'm really happy this isn't finished in one book we really need another to see everything, there are so many more questions left unanswered. Having said that every bit of this book is needed, Blake Blessing didn't add filler into this book to make it longer or add another book every part of this book is important, needed and amazing. This is a wonderful start, one where I don't know what will happen next or how it will end. This book is marked as romance and you can see the start of romance but not much, this is a very slow burn but I didn't mind it at all because I enjoyed the story so much. My other comment was the ending scene I didn't like, it wasn't for me and I really wish it hadn't happened. However I will still be reading book two hoping that will not be a thing going forward.

My other comment: please be careful and thoughtful when picking up this book there are triggers and I do not say that lightly, something I don't like in books but just because I don't like them doesn't mean they are triggers. This book has them.

*Thank you Netgalley and Part of Imperial Trials for this ARC

[Ellen Fleming · Rating 3 out of 5]

How, precisely, do I write this review? I'm a bit stumped.

Let me start, without discussing any spoilers, the main thing: this is not a why choose. This is 100% a bully romance, and romance is a bit of a stretch. I think it will become a why choose in book 2, but this first book had no why choose elements at all. And my biggest thing that is needed? Trigger warnings! I know they should be in the final book, according to the author's social media, but they were desperately needed in the ARC itself (I'm very grateful for my copy, don't get me wrong! But it would have been helpful to know what I was getting in to before having to read it).

For the spoiler side of things:
Y'all, the amount near-🍇 and nonconsensual sexual activity in this book...please protect your mental health if any of these scenarios might be harmful to you! The FMC's four men are all mainly assholes to her, except Killan, who was just happy to be there (LOL. If I had to survive this realm, I would need to be on so many drugs to get to the same level of la-dee-dah that Killan is at). Like, this is a true dark fantasy with bullying tendencies. I'm not even sure if I know how these men will be worthy of the FMC come Book 2. She deserves begging, groveling, on their hands and knees for them to even get a chance to speak to her!

Marin (the Mushu-like character) was my favorite tbh. His dry humor is exactly how I speak sometimes, so I appreciated him LOL. The plot was certainly moving, which I enjoyed, but there were still questions I had left over (where did Marin keep sneaking off to, for example)

And do not get me started on the bath scenes (eww) and the last chapter (*shudders*. I think it was meant to be erotic, but it came off as nonconsensual and creepy.). I could have done away without reading any of those, and the plot would have remained fine.

At this point, I need book 2 solely because I feel like I deserve the why choose aspect I thought I was going to get in book 1! It is FINE if they will EVENTUALLY be a why choose scenario, but I don't think it is fair to mismarket the first book as why choose when that isn't the case. It should be labeled as a dark fantasy with future why choose romantasy elements...but that is just my opinion.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 & 𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
🎧/📖: Blade of Two Faces (The Imperial Trials, 1)
🎙️: Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick, Marcio Catalano, Robert Hatchet, Sarah Sampino

Fleeing her kingdom and its cruel king, Ellis winds up infiltrating the Imperial Trials and posing as a man. The winner can claim a mate and the crown. But she needs to survive first.

This story contains dark and heavy themes and I suggest checking out all the CW and TW before diving in.

Tropes:
🎙️Multi POV/dual POV
🗡️Mulan retelling
👀Rivals to enemies to…
🏃‍♀️Runaway Princess
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒Four ruthless heirs
💫Magic & dēadly trials
🖤Dark Romantasy Why Choose
⚠️Check CW/TW

The narrator brilliantly channels Ellis’s desperation and hilarious connection with the magical familiar. Ellis is clever and resourceful despite her isolated upbringing and I cannot wait to see her continued journey.

Killian, Zave, Xanth and Veric all have dark pasts and exhibit differing levels of ruthless and unhinged. The narrators infused all the disdain, surprise, and intrigue over Ellis into their performances.

All she wants is her freedom, and they want her gone by any means necessary. I loved the Mulan meets Gladiator vibes and I am so eager to see what happens next.

Blade of Two Faces is a bold and brutal dark romantasy with the promise of a thrilling why choose!

Huge thanks to the author, Bramble, and Macmillan Audio for the review copies. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Naomi Ortiz · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I am absolutely obsessed with this Mulan retelling! It has everything I could want in a fantasy romance: plenty of action, magic, and a generous sprinkling of spice (not with the ones you'd expect 👀). Just be sure to check your triggers before diving in!

The story follows Ellis, a princess whose grandmother filled her childhood with tales of monsters and magical beings living beyond the wall. But no one believes those stories. And if everything beyond the wall is supposedly so dangerous, why has no one ever crossed it?

Ellis has another reason to escape: her sadistic, twisted twin brother, who wants her in a way no brother ever should. When she finally finds the courage to flee the kingdom, she discovers a world filled with magic, familiars, and people she never knew existed.

But escaping her brother is only the beginning. Now, Ellis must fight for her life, uncover the truth about the world beyond the wall, and battle for a crown that could change everything.

I am completely hooked, and I cannot wait to see where this story takes her!

The last line will have you reeling : " Hurt me. Destroy me."

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blade of Two Faces by Blake Blessing
Releases November 17

🗡Trials, Dark Fantasy, Slow Burn, Multiple POV, Hidden Identity

Trigger Warning: Non-consent, Rape, Violence

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

Thank you Netgalley, Blake Blessing for this ALC in exchange for my review.

This book is not for the faint of heart. This story was interesting, but good, dark, and creepy. The beginning of the book was a bit choppy for me, but then the rest flowed nicely. Ellis is a great character to cheer on. She's determined, been through so much, and she keeps going even after the multiple attempts on her life. There are tons of male characters to not love in this book including the four heirs. They are competing against each other for the crown. They all have their own agendas. I would be interested in reading book two to see where this story goes for Ellis and the heirs. The ending had me on edge. I have so many questions. Also, think it'd be great to have more world building and character depth for the men.

#blakeblessing #Netgalley #darkromance #fiction

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I read Mulan vibes and a why choose book it completely grabbed my attention! And it absolutely did not disappoint! I will start by saying even though it’s a why choose there is no spice or romance in this novel but you can tell it is building up to be good in the next one! The Fmc is disguised as a man to survive after her absolutely horrific past. I was expecting a bully romance but even through the mmcs, well some of them could be cruel so was the fmc at points. They all have their reasons while they try to survive deadly trials. Ellis also has a really cool tiny dragon like familiar just like Mulan as well. The ending was super intriguing and I absolutely cannot wait to see how it unfolds in the next one! I listened to the audio and it was done extremely well in multicast narration!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook!

[Melissa Mejia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving this as an ALC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. This was giving Mulan vibes and I absolutely loved the narration!! It had me hooked from the very start!! I felt all the emotions with the narration!! This is definitely a must read/listen to book!!

“Never send a man to do a woman's job. Mulan meets Gladiator in this explosive why-choose romantasy!

This program features multicast narration.

When I fled from the rotting kingdom of Mador, there was only one thought on my mind—survive.

For too long the king, my brother, has kept me underneath his iron rule, his abuse, and after years as his captive I’ve finally escaped… barely.

But the outside world may be no better…”

[Kayla Brenghause]

The first part of this book was very heavy (check trigger warnings) that really sets the scene for what Ellis the fmc has been living like and why she starts her journey. A touch of Mulan inspired themes throughout the book really brings a fun vibe to the whole thing. You can definitely see the character growth from the fmc through out the book as she figures out what it is no longer like being under her brother's thumb, but while doing it hidden as a man. This is definitely a slow burn series as we get introduced to the leading men and they all despise her. So excited for book 2 and see this journey continue.

[Sarah West · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Holy cliffhanger! 4.5 stars from me! This book felt like a mix of Throne of Glass and Mulan and I am here for it. I really enjoyed the pacing and felt like there was a lot of action mixed with learning the magic system (though I still feel somewhat confused but I think it’s intentional since were learning alongside our FMC). I didn’t feel like we really got to the romance or the “why choose” part of the story yet but I can see where it’ll come into play in the next book. I already can’t wait for book 2 and this book isn’t even published yet 😭
Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC

[Ally · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story! I loved the nods to Mulan and the premise overall. I am so interested in where this story goes. I think almost all of the characters had quirks and mysteries that I yearn to know more about. And the ending has me on edge, waiting for the next book! The audio was good. The narrators really sold the story and emotions. What a fun time!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgally for the ALC!

[Alyx Gough · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately this was a hard DNF at 10% for me. I was really excited with the Mulan retelling but it was pretty gross to me. We get a SA and attempted rape scene in the first few chapters. And then an unnecessary murder? I couldn’t even tell you where this story was going but I don’t need to know. I tried to keep going but the amount of red flags I found said nope.

[Elle · Rating 1 out of 5]

At the arrival of a Cheshire Cat knock off in the forest… I was done. (DNF - ch. 10/ 15.3%)

[Sierra · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐️ Rating: 1 Star
💔 DNF at 40%

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for granting me access to this book.

I tried. I REALLY tried. But this book was a disaster in the first few pages. I was really excited for this ARC as it sounded like something that would be impossible not to enjoy. Unfortunately though, even by page 20 I was struggling to continue this book. Through pure spite and refusal to DNF I persisted to the 40% mark — though it took a month. I do plan on returning to the book as I refuse to DNF but it is going to take a lot to force me back into these pages.

A non-spoiler gripe I have with this book is the changing of regular terms with new words but no explanation or context to figure out what the characters are talking about. Modern slang/internet phrases are also used which really pulls one out of the setting.

As for the characters, I’m not rooting for anyone. In her disguise, Ellis is the embodiment of, “Uh, yeah. I just did that.” type of “cool” guy. And the men in the story are brutish, egotistical losers from what I could get through. Just a mess of unlikable characters all around. Which isn’t surprising given the mess everything else is.

Do not EVER enter the Trauma Olympics against Ellis — you will lose just from the events that take place in the first 40 pages.

Maybe the book gets better. I doubt it, but you never know. Eventually I’ll hate myself enough to return to its pages and push through until I finish it — probably just to see how hard it can hit rock bottom. But until then, this book will continue to officially be the first book that was so bad I had no choice but to DNF.

This review contains spoilers from this point:

So, to condense 40 pages into the bullet points of all that happens

• We find out the only person left in the kingdom who loved her is dead (Rip mom, dad, and grandma)
• Her twin brother sexually assaults her in front of everyone — they get mad at HER
• She visits her families crypt for comfort (despite noting that she can see all their faces which are locked in painful screams)
• Get knocked out upon leaving said crypt
• Returned to her brother who then tries to attack her and almost breaks her door down in the process of attempting to reach her
• Her servant physically assaults her and gushes about dressing Ellis up to be assaulted by her brother
• Her brother once again sexually assaults her in front of a crowd who do nothing but leave the room when told
• Her brother almost successfully rapes her before she is able to stab him and escape
• A guard tries to catch her but is stopped by the only person in the castle who is kind to Ellis. Her name is Alice. That’s not important though as she is then immediately murdered in front of Ellis for trying to save her
• Ellis kills the guard in turn and escapes

This all happening in one book, sure. Spaced out, it wouldn’t be such an overwhelming and on the nose way to say “my life sucks and the people in my kingdom are bad). But shoving all of this into the first 40 pages ?? A mess. We get it, her life sucks and nobody loves her. It’s also crazy to me to OPEN THE BOOK immediately with “Incestuous twin brother who sexually assaults twin sister.”

If I haven’t said it enough — this book is an absolute mess. Bad dialogue, unlikable characters, overcompensating how much trauma one needs to experience in order for a reader to understand that their life sucks. It feels like the author has a trauma fetish and dedicated her book to getting off on it.

I will never recommend this book and frankly, might save people time and money by warning them of just how bad it is.