Crown of Crimson and Crows

Blood Bound #1

by Tessa Hale

From TikTok sensation Tessa Hale comes a new vampire romance series, a spin-off of Wolves of Crescent Creek.

Four ruthless vampires. Enemies by history. Allies by necessity. Bound by the gods themselves to…me.
Hidden in the human world, I was meant to live quietly, unaware of the power bound beneath my skin. But magic doesn't stay buried forever. Neither do secrets. When the bindings on my power begin to crack, the truth is finally set free-and so are the men fate tied me to.
The King of fire who would rather kill me than kiss me.
A Prince of starlight, my childhood friend, whose tie to me could cost him everything.
The King of ice, whose cruelty is only matched by his coldness.
And the King of earth and blood, whose feral nature and death toll is feared by every being in all four kingdoms.
These are the men destined to love me…if we can only stop trying to kill one another first.
But when the truth about me is uncovered, they say my power could fracture our world. That demons are hunting me. That war is coming-whether I'm ready or not.
What they don't say is how impossible it will be to resist.
Because the bond doesn't ask.
It claims.
And when my magic finally awakens, it won't just bind me to my destiny-it will decide the fate of the very realm.

Tessa Hale 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Genres: Why Choose, Fantasy, Vampires, Romantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance

Audible Audio

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

Author of love stories with magic, usually with more than one love interest. Constant daydreamer.

What a FREE novella from me? You can download one via BookFunnel: https://BookHip.com/NWRWMZA

Reviews

[Sentranced Jem]

I have to wait until SEPTEMBER 2026!! Noooooo 😩😭
Update :
♥️ Why Choose
♥️ Fated Mates
♥️ Royals
♥️ Enemy Vampires

[AvidReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I expected it to be.

Fast paced with Slowburn romance, vampires & witches, a wonderful bunch of quirky and diverse characters, a fantastic and sassy heroine, cute familiars, unique but world building and powers— I ATE THIS UP!

I can’t emphasis on how much I loved Rae. She was flat out amazing.
Rhys, you grumpy cinnamon roll, I can’t wait to see you bowing down to Rae. His and Rae banter had me laughing throughout the book! I loved that, she challenged him all the time.
Kian was such a beautiful character. An amazing childhood friend & mate. Loved his bond with Rae.
I loved Nyx and his familiar Odin. There was something so attractive about his coldness. The possibilities about the greenhouse scene🔥.
GIVE ME MORE OF TORRIN PLEASE 🙏!!! He is feral? God, I’m feral for him!
Suffice to say, I can’t pick a favourite.

Ms. Tessa, what was that ending😭😭😭😭!!! Can we have the second book this year itself?
Seriously can’t wait for it.

-Royal Vampires
-Why choose.
-Fated mates.
-Mates are enemies.
-Forbidden romance.
-First in a trilogy.
-TW, Safe, and highly recommended.
-Sep 1st!

I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DblqBp...

[charisse ♡]

₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
tessa hale always EATS! so when i saw this was on read now, i HAD TO get it, no explanations needed, eeeeek!!

[Tessa Hale]

👑 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒂𝒍 👑

Prepare your eyes for the most PERFECT cover to enter my vampire era with! The Crown of Crimson and Crows cover is here! There are so many details I am obsessed with, from the bl00d dripping from the crown to the little teases threaded through the background 👀

And did I mention that this paperback WILL BE IN BOOKSTORES!? The Deluxe Edition with @bloom_books will have:
♥️ Spot Gloss!
♥️ Exclusive Sprayed Edges!
♥️ My longest & most epic story yet!

You can preorder your copy everywhere now in ebook and paperback, and you can save 25% at Barnes & Noble with the code BLOOM25!

The biggest thank you to @trcdesignscat for bringing this cover to life! She is a true magician!


I’ll be back soon with some more exciting teases and reveals, including some absolutely INCREDIBLE audio news 😉

Preorder the Deluxe Edition paperback now: https://geni.us/CrwnofCrmsnPB
Preorder from Barnes & Noble: https://geni.us/CrwnofCrmsnBN
Preorder the ebook: https://geni.us/RhyseBook

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh this was soooo good! Tessa Hale’s first foray into vampires and I was HOOKED! This is the start of a brand new series so a great place to jump in. I loved how intricate this world is already and I was so invested in everything going on with the enemy vampires, the magic, the fated bonds, her trying to find her mates, the tension!

We follow Rae, she’s been living in the human world studying botany when her entire world gets thrown upside down when she finds out she’s actually a witch whose memories were wiped and she’s fated to multiple vampire heroes! She starts off with 2 through most of the story and they are searching for the other 2 as the story continues on. It made for such great tension, with the enemy kingdoms, some wanting to be there more than others, her figuring out her history and magic, and the pull of her blood. We get to learn about all the heroes and I loved how different they all are, have different motivations and backgrounds, and I just cannot get over how this author always makes her heroes feel so unique from each other within her why choose romances. Ahh this book just worked for me so well, I was screaming at some of the hero reveals and seeing how it all played out. I’m so invested and cannot wait for more now with this trilogy!

I received an ALC & ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own. The audiobook is full cast narration and fantastic, I always recommend this author on audio if you can!

[Kristina Nichole]

Oh go me for the ARC

Why Choose? ✅
Paranormal ✅

Win win

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic start to a new PNR! Omg, I was locked in right from the beginning. Rhys was such a mysterious character in Tessa’s previous series, so I was more than ready to get his backstory.

“It was as if my blood was singing just for her. Because in a land of nearly no light, she was destined to be my sun and moon.”

This book sets up a new world, new magic and new breeds of supernatural beings. The Luminaries aka, the light weavers and the Nocturnae, which are the beings that vampires originated from.

I loved discovering the different kingdoms/kings and the descriptions of their castles. Nyx’s reminded me of the Frozen castle and I loved it! Overall, this story was a refreshing new world to get lost in!

The FMC, Rae was awesome. I loved that even when she was facing so many new things and complications with her family and powers, she stayed true to herself and was quick whited.

“What was worse? That Nyx had that in him, the need to hunt me? Or that I wanted him to catch me?”

We get to meet all of Rae’s (hopeful) future mates and I loved them all for different reasons! Nyx, the Cruel King, was the perfect blend of dark king vs snarky bad boy. I think my favorite mate is going to end up being Torrin, the Feral King! He reminds me of huge grumpy bear that’s soft only for her!

“Something tells me the Feral King doesn’t like to share.”

Kain was great, the spicy chemistry between him and Rae was HOT. This series will definitely get spicier each book!

My heart broke for Rhys, he has his reasons for being standoffish, but even when he is at war with himself, he protected her for YEARS.

“If my fated wanted to rip you limb from limb, you should’ve smiled and said thank you,” Nyx growled.
“Gods,” Pax muttered. “He really is unhinged.”

I truly have no idea where Rae’s journey will lead her and her mates but I need the next book, ASAP!

TESSA!
That cliff was CRIMINAL!

Tropes:
💋 Fated Mates
🤭 Forbidden Pairings
🪴 Plant Loving FMC
✨ Magic, Monsters & Men w/ Wings
👊🏼 Protective Mates
👀 Secrets & Mysteries
🫶🏼 Found Family
❤️‍🔥 Slow Burn + Spice

[enchantedmelreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to expect
🪄why choose
✨royal vampires
🪄mates who are mortal enemies
✨”my wife”
🪄blood play
✨childhood friends to lovers
🪄touch her & ☠️

I DID NOT WANT THIS BOOK TO END. 😭

I was completely sucked in from the very first page, and Tessa Hale once again proved why she is an auto-read author for me. The plot had me completely intrigued, the tension was EVERYTHING, and that ending?! Excuse me while I scream into the void because I NEED THE NEXT BOOK LIKE I NEED AIR.

And these characters?! I loved every single one of them.

Rhys, tortured by wanting Rae despite everything her lineage represents. Kian, her childhood best friend who has so much history with her. Nyx, the cruel king. And Torrin, the absolutely feral king. Each of these men has their own flaws, secrets, and layers, and I am DYING to peel them all back and see what’s underneath.

And Rae? I loved her. She’s soft without being weak, determined without losing herself, and stronger than she realizes. I cannot wait to watch her character arc unfold because I KNOW there is so much more coming for her.

The royal vampires, the why choose, the childhood friends-to-lovers, the mortal enemy mates, the possessiveness, the blood play, the “my wife” moments, the touch her and ☠️ energy… THIS BOOK HAD ME IN A CHOKEHOLD.

And that ending officially put me in a major book hangover. I’m not okay. I’m not ready to move on. I’m just sitting here waiting for the next book to ruin me all over again.

If you love vampire romantasy with morally questionable men, complicated bonds, delicious tension, and characters who are going to consume your every thought… add this one to your TBR.

[Thindbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows a young woman who is put into the human world with no memories of her witch family but is brought back to the magic world, where she finds out she had four mates. I am a huge fan of Tessa Hale and have loved her Crescent Kingdom series. This story was great but not the best yet. However, I know the series will pick up as all the characters were introduced and more of the romance will build up. This book was heavily relying on introductions of the people and the world, but I wish it had a better plotline. This book is told mainly from Rae’s pov but also from Rhys, Kian, Nyx, and Torrin.

Rae is the FMC of the story, and I loved her bubbly character. She gives off the cute, comfy friend you want to have in your corner. I loved seeing her character developed and seeing her find another world of hers. Then we have the four men. Rhys is a grumpy guy who still needs to open up to Rae. Kian is a cutie pie and Rae’s childhood friend who will do anything for her. Nyx didn’t get a strong introduction, but Torrin is a feral teddy bear who just wants Rae. The romance is why choose, forbidden romance, but much romance didn’t happen yet. There was one scene between Rae and her mate, but the chemistry is still forming. There are a few side characters, but I loved Pax and how he was Rae’s BFF.

The ending was well done with a minor cliffhanger. I am excited to read book 2, especially to see how everyone’s relationship forms. I am a huge fan of Tessa’s and am super excited to see how this new Why Choose series expands and what happens in the vampire world.

*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

[Dorianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bloom Books and Netgalley for this eARC of Crown of Crimson and Crows. Here is my honest and voluntary review.

Such an easy read. Tessa Hale writes very approachable why-chooses perfect for those starting out in the genre. I loved the variety of men in this one. They all feel developed, they all have pasts that we do not know about but that really influence their feelings towards the fact that they are to be mated to Rae. Speaking of the men, I absolutely loved Kian from the get-go. The whole childhood friends and amnesia trope really worked for me. Rhys has got that mysterious and cold vibe going which I enjoyed. We do not get a lot about the other men in the mate group and I cannot wait to explore them.
Rae, the FMC, was great. I loved her love and knowledge of plants (and that when she is in Lumaria and exploring that world she is just as interested in the new plants she discovers). I also appreciated the migraine rep.
The world of Lumaria was a bit of a weaker point. The worldbuilding is a lot and still felt a bit blurry to me by the end. Crown of Crimson and Crows ends with a lot of questions unanswered and areas to explore and I’m excited to continue.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t too bad of a book. However, based on what has happened so far, I think this book should have been a bit longer, and the series could probably be a duet.

So far, we learn why the FMC was hidden in the human world, she starts regaining her memories and powers, and she finds out who her mates are. We are also introduced to the world and that was about it. We briefly see a big bad but we won’t know much.

I have no issue with all of this happening as it’s the start of the series, but I needed more. Maybe it’s just the way that it was written and that we know who all of the MMCs are fairly quickly, even if it takes a while to meet some of them. But we don’t learn much about them, the conflicts within the world or the big bad so it’s just a meet and greet in this book.

In saying that, I’m sure the next book will have a lot of action, development and we will learn a lot, but I think some of that should have been added into this book.

Thank you Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

[DarcieReadsALot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing series starter from Tessa, per usual! I love that we are going to get to know Rhys better after meeting him in the Wolves of Crescent Creek series - although he doesn’t make it easy to love him (even though I really, really do!). I really loved the perspective in this one as a human enters a magical world and is equal parts overwhelmed and mystified, because what fantasy reader hasn’t put themselves in those exact same shoes every time they pick up another book? Rae’s destiny is an inconvenience for many and this book only begins to set the stage for all of the challenges yet to reveal themselves. I adored the moments when some of the MMCs had internal battles between their hearts and their brains - fighting the irresistible and refuting the undeniable - I honestly can’t wait for the fall! There are moments of ‘heck yes, you go, girl!’ but also moments of despair and isolation. I couldn’t get enough of Odin and Bandit and can’t wait to see more from them! All the emotions had me instantly invested in the story and I didn’t want to put it down! The cliffhanger of course left me both spinning my wheels with speculation and on the edge of my seat for the next book! I already know this is going to be an amazing why choose fantasy romance series!

[leah | whatsyourromantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new favorite Tessa Hale series has entered the chat. I've read all of Tessa's previous books and this one absolutely blew me away! Crown of Crimson and Crows takes things to new heights, giving us a higher fantasy realm filled with dangers – both from outside sources and from within.

I love when the MMCs resist the pull toward the FMC and give us all the tension and buildup as their relationship grows, but I love it even more when the MMCs are at odds. These MMCs are lifelong enemies, and the tension and history between each of them so intriguing.

I absolutely loved Rae. Her inner strength, compassion, willingness to sass these giant, scary vampire males, and her smarts make her a perfect FMC that I love to read about. I can't wait to see how she grows throughout this series (and I'll be telling everyone to "sit on a cactus" from now on).

Tessa, you really outdid yourself on this one. I absolutely loved seeing the growth of this universe – each of Tessa's series are independent stories but have some character cameos and crossovers. I love the idea of all of these stories happening within the same world.

[Brandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bloom Books, Sourcebooks, and NetGalley for an eARC to read and review before publishing.

Blood Bound is the third series I've read from Tessa Hale. And although they all follow the same formula, Crown of Crimson and Crows feels completely unique, especially in the realm of vampires and witches that Tessa has created.

Crown of Crimson and Crows is a fast-paced, addicting read that I couldn't put down. I love the hidden identity aspect and Rae having to discover who she is within this new world. Her character growth was already evident in the first book, and I know that this will force the men around her to grow as well.

Obviously since this is the first book in a series, it does end on a cliffhanger, which only made me more excited for the second book. Crown of Crimson and Crows is an addicting first book, and I cannot wait for more.

🌶️🌶️

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bloom Books, NetGalley, and the author for this advanced copy. This was so fast paced and entertaining!

The story gets going pretty quickly and Rae meets 2 of her mates right away. A lot of characters were introduced in a short timeframe and I was afraid I wasn’t going to remember anything but each mate and side character stood out.

Rae was so naive, sweet, and innocent, with a heart of gold. My heart broke for her with each revelation and with how some of her mates reacted to her.

I did feel like the pacing was slightly off toward the end and the book ends on a cliffhanger but it was a little abrupt for me. Besides that, I did really enjoy this and am looking forward to continuing the series and seeing Rae bond with her other mates.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rae is thrust into a world she cannot remember and must navigate the political landscape and her relationships with each fated. I loved discovering the nuances of the world alongside her and how she approaches everything thrown at her head-on. Rhys was easily my favorite because I am a sucker for a grumpy, tortured soul! The banter between him and Rae was a highlight as well! I love that she threw all his attitude back at him! Kian and Rae’s past relationship made him the perfect compliment for her early on and I love that she has more of a tender side with him. Nyx and Torrin have me equally intrigued and I cannot wait to see how things develop. Pax and Kyrie were favorite side characters and I loved Rae’s interactions with both of them. Between the building romances and the world dynamics, it was so easy to get lost in this book! I did not want it to end and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

✨Why choose
✨Witches, Vampires, Demons
✨Animal familiars
✨Fated mates
✨Multi POV

Thank you to Bloom Books and the author for the review copy!

[Taylor Lichty · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75🌟

Another intriguing start to a Tessa Hale trilogy! She has her why-choose formula down and she is going to stick to it. I will say this one is interesting because we really only get to know 2 of our 4 love interests in this book. I can't wait to get to know them all better in book 2.

My favorite part of Tessa Hale's "universe" is how her stories connect to each other. We met Rhys in her Wolves of Crescent Creek series and I immediately wanted to know everything about him. The world-building and the magic here are also super fun and unlike anything she has written before.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC!

[kelseys.inthelibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reverse harem? ✔️
Vampire kings? ✔️
Say. Less.

I had such a fun time with this one! The story kept me hooked from start to finish, and that absolutely diabolical cliffhanger has me desperate to continue the series. I can’t wait to get to know each of these vampire kings even better in the next book. 🖤🦇

Thank you for the ARC! ✨

[Vanessa]

never ending TBR

[Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

this might me my fave from Tessa Hale 🤌🏼

Alllllll of the MC’s have my heart and I truly adore Rae 🥹 she’s so precious and needs to be protected at all costs. Pax & Kyrie are also precious and I swear if any betrayal came from them i’m going to riot 😤

Bandit & Odin are the BESTTTTTT 😌

thank you so much Netgalley, Bloom Books & Tessa for this gifted earc 🫶🏼

[Morgan | bookish_morgano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should’ve guessed it would end on that cliffhanger.. WOW I cannot wait for book 2! 🤭 RTC

[sam | sammylou.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Move over Wolves of Crescent Creek, mama’s got a new favorite Tessa Hale series. 🫷😌🫸

Crown of Crimson and Crows DELIVERED. It was such a strong start to the series. We’ve got fated mates, vampires, and it’s WHY CHOOOOSE. The plot is fast-paced and there’s banter galore!! I genuinely never wanted to put it down.

Now onto those mates — I loved them all. Tessa always does a stellar job with her MMCs, but I do have some faves.

Big daddy Rhys — Is he a major ass in this book? Yes, but I do not care in the slightest 😌 I love him. And I love that Rae didn't put up with his nonsense and always had a hilarious comeback. — "Go suck on a lemon and then sit on a cactus." 😭


And the Feral King?? 👀 Yeah, you could say I'm feral for him 😩. Tessa is such a tease introducing that big bearded man at the end like that. 👹I NEED MORE 👹

Rae's relationship with her baby sister was so sweet and wholesome. I loved the way she immediately came to Kyrie's defense and threatened Nyx (shortly after meeting him lmao) — “I may not know how to use my magic yet, but I will learn. And if you even think of scaring her like that again, I’ll fry your ass.” 🤣🍳

That cliffhanger was the rudest. I wasn't paying attention to my reading percentage and thought I had more pages left than that 😭. I can't wait for the next book!!

Read if you enjoy:
-Why choose
-Royal vampires
-Touch her & die
-Primal play

Thank you to Bloom Books for the ARC.

[Dahlya · Rating 4 out of 5]

What you you do if you one day woke up and realized your entire life had been a carefully constructed lie? If you suddenly learned you were not, in fact, human, but fated to be one of the most powerful "witches" in history? And to balance that power, you've been fated to have not one, not two, or even three, but four mates? And then what if those mates were of an entirely different species, one that your own species has been locked in tensions with since their origin? Sound interesting? Meet Rae, who is suddenly thrust into a world of magic, filled with vampires, witches, demons, unsure where the greatest threat lies and who she can trust as she navigates this sudden shift in her reality.

Firstly, thank you so much to SOURCEBOOKS for giving me early access to Crown of Crimson and Crows to read early on NetGalley! I had such a fun time reading this book!

Crown of Crimson and Crows is a fast-paced and high-stakes why choose romantasy from Tessa Hale. From the first chapter, I was sucked into the story, a few chapters later, it was completely "unputdownable!" The book itself was easy to read, the way each kingdom was described felt so immersive. Given that we're getting into spooky season, I especially loved this world! I thought it was described so well to the point where this book was playing out like a movie in my head, I felt like I could see the characters, the kingdoms, and the eeriness as it was described.

As soon as we met one of the MMCs in particular, it was clear the author knew exactly what she was doing to us! He was instantly giving Damon Salvatore vibes, which made me so nostalgic for The Vampire Diaries and made me love the character even more. With that, each character in this book had so much depth.

The pacing of this book was phenomenal, especially compared to some of the author's previous books/series I've read. I think this was my favorite book by her that I've read so far! I never got bored, but it also wasn''t so short that I felt like the story was rushed or the character development was rushed. The pacing gave me exactly what I needed and opened just enough mystery to be a spectacular start to the series!

That said, while I really enjoyed this book, I did find some of the characters, patricianly the female main character, Rae, read very immature at times. She is described to be 23-years old in the book, but was acting and speaking like a middle-schooler for large parts of the book. I found myself a little annoyed with her dialogue at times, especially when her younger sister, who is 13-years old, acted more mature than her. Phrases like "bossy pants," or "grumpy jerk face," while maybe part of the charm for some, unfortunately gave me the ick as a reader. I just didn't understand how she was 23, but was speaking like she was 12. It felt like she was being infantilized as a character and honestly just felt inappropriate to be reading, as though she was 23, she read like she was much MUCH younger, so then reading the spice scenes with that in mind made me feel (for a lack of a better word): icky. And this isn't to harp on anything, it just genuinely felt deeply wrong, morally so, to read the spice when the character spoke and acted like a minor. I had to keep reminding myself that she was 23 over and over. I do hope that in future books, this can be remedied, as the plot itself was fantastic and I had such a fun time reading, I genuinely cannot wait for the next in the series. But it just felt wrong to be reading at times, so would love to see the FMC have dialogue that reflects her age, especially in a book with adult content.

With that, like I said, I did really enjoy this book. The plot and pacing were excellent and I think it gave everything that a first book in a series should. I am excited to see where the next book goes, as I think there is such an interesting premise for where this story can head, with so many potential villains on the horizon and betrayals looming. I already have some of my theories saved, so cannot wait to see how close or far I am from being correct!

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vampires + witch + fated mates + territories at odds + oncoming war with evil demons
The tropes pretty much sum up the depth of the story. Our FMC is uberpowerful, never heard of level of power, fated to have 4 mates, also unheard of. Conveniently fated to the kings of each of the 4 (vampire) kingdoms, while she (was the betrothed to) represents the central witch kingdom. She was stolen as a child to live in hiding in the human realm, memories masked and magic stifled. She lives a normal human life until her migraines worsen and her magic awakens, causing her to be brought back ‘home’. To a world at odds with itself and no one seems happy to see her. Except her childhood bestie and now fated mate, the only safe space for her in this new world and truly the only one outwardly nice and comforting to her. Her human realm bestie who was tasked as her guardian is still there, but he takes a back seat and seems only there to provide levity in his choked chuckles when she smarts off.
OK - that was as nice as I could be about this book..
This is a fated mates where the author doesn’t have to try to develop the relationships. They’re implicit, required, out of their control. Sure, two are grumpy kings and one is an outright ass to her, but they are immediately uber protective and keen on her as soon as they see her. Sure, she doesn’t like the idea of fate taking their free will away, but she seems happy to give in to the buzzing sensations and see what happens. Maybe Kian tries to get to know her, sure Rhys knows all her favorite foods from his stalkerish ways from Human.. But there’s no connecting. No relationship building. Its all fate and giving in to the bond.
The world building is there but not quite… each kingdom gets its blurb, shes so fascinated by plantlife but we get ‘it looks like a birch’ ?? That is the most description we get about the plant life?? As she travels through THREE kingdoms!? & how are these trips so short? On horseback, no less. What? Where is the rest of the quest??
Gotta mention my pet peeve of ripping clothing unnecessarily (in the heat of the moment, I HAVE to have you). After she already mentioned it was the most perfect texture and whatever, and it was HAND MADE FOR HER. Rude.
I also don’t appreciate she turned to sex with one mate just because she felt rejected by another. Also rude. Sit with your feelings a damn second. IDK, maybe talk to him instead of throwing a fit by walking away?
She felt immature all around. She fussed about not wanting to be there. Constantly thinking about how she can get rid of these bonds and go back home. Can’t defend herself or even stand up for herself when in danger. Sure, she acknowledges this. Sure, she Starts to get training when she almost causes one of them to DIE. But its like that training is the entirety of her character arc. Again, lazy. She’s helpless and doesn’t appreciate these guys who would Kill for her to keep her safe. Instead she runs off in the night - because she knows best- to enter a different kingdom she’s never been to, that is surely days away??, with her KID Sister, then tells the first strangers she interacts with ALL her secrets and asks for help, then walks in blind to her fated mate that is Feral. Nonsense.
Lastly, while the book describes itself as vampires, and yes they are written as living-off-blood with-fangs species, the characters themselves are very against the term vampires so I find it strange the author uses that to advertise the book - same for witch, its derogatory for the characters so why are the readers using it?
I have a read several first of the series of Tessa Hale and have yet to pick up the second book. This is another. &**Another with some crazy cliffhanger out of nowhere.
This is supposedly a spin off from Wolves of Crescent Creek, but there was One reference to that series and NOthing else. So I’m confused. Why bother ‘spin off’. Just make it its’ own thing.

[Karolina Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had such a fun time with this one. This book gave me that delicious combination of vampires, magic, secrets, dangerous kingdoms, fated bonds and enough tension to keep me happily turning pages. It’s the kind of book where I kept telling myself “Just one more chapter” Rae was definitely the heart of the story for me. I loved her kindness, her loyalty and especially the fact that she wasn’t afraid to give these terrifying vampire men a little attitude. She has a lot thrown at her and while she doesn’t magically become an expert at everything overnight, watching her begin to figure out who she is was one of my favorite parts.

And then there are the men. 👀

Rhys had me going back and forth between sir, please get your attitude together and unfortunately, I understand the appeal. His complicated relationship with Rae and the conflict surrounding his loyalties gave their interactions so much bite. Pax was an absolute gem too and honestly, I wouldn’t complain if he got approximately 900% more page time. Nyx and Torrin were harder for me to fully connect with because we don’t get quite as much time with them, but I could see the potential. And that mysterious Feral King? EXCUSE ME, Tessa. You cannot casually drop that man into my life and then expect me to behave normally afterward. I need answers. Immediately. Preferably yesterday.

I also really enjoyed Rae’s relationship with Kyrie. Their bond brought some much needed warmth to all the vampire politics, danger and general everyone here might be hiding something energy. Rae’s protective side really came out around her and those moments made me like Rae even more. The world itself has a LOT going on and I liked discovering it alongside Rae instead of getting hit with a giant encyclopedia in chapter one. There are witches, vampires, demons, kingdoms, magic, old conflicts, secrets and Fate apparently playing a very questionable game of matchmaking. There are definitely pieces I’m still trying to put together and I expect the next books to expand the world quite a bit.

If I’m being completely honest, not everything worked perfectly for me. Some of the character dialogue felt a little too juvenile at times, especially for Rae and there were moments where I wanted her to feel a bit more like the adult woman she is. I also wanted more development with some of the later introductions because by the time I started getting interested in certain characters, the book was basically like “Bye! See you next time.” RUDE!!!

Now, that ending?!

Tessa Hale really looked at me, saw that I was comfortable and said, absolutely not. The final stretch left me with approximately seventeen questions, several theories and the immediate desire to know what happens next, but I have to say that this was a really entertaining start to what looks like a very promising series. I loved the atmosphere, the supernatural chaos, the tension between the characters and the slow unfolding of Rae’s new reality. I wasn’t completely obsessed with every character yet, but I definitely see the potential and I’m invested enough to need the next book.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, especially if you enjoy why choose romantasy, vampires, fated bonds, complicated MMCs, magical secrets, banter and a heroine who is willing to verbally fight men who could probably eat her for breakfast.

A huge thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and Tessa Hale for allowing me to read this eARC before its release through NetGalley. I had such a fun time getting lost in this world and I’m definitely curious to see where Rae, Rhys, Pax, Nyx, Torrin and the rest of this beautifully chaotic mess go from here.

📆 Crown of Crimson and Crows releases September 1, 2026.

[Bookish Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know where to begin with this one. Crown of Crimson and Crows by Tessa Hale is book one of her new Blood Bound series, a why-choose vampire romance spinning out of her Wolves of Crescent Creek universe, and I need to talk about every single one of these characters individually because honestly, they all earned it.

I did the immersive read on this — audio and ebook together — and the narration was pure perfection. Multiple POVs, not one moment of lag, riveted the entire time.

The FMC Rae: So lovable, genuinely. She's the kind of heroine who gets thrown into a situation she never asked for — bound by fate to four men who are supposed to be enemies before anything else — and instead of folding under that, she holds her own. I was rooting for her from page one, and the multiple POV structure let me actually understand how these men see her and her impact on them.

The King of Fire: This one's a mess in the best way. He'd rather kill her than kiss her, at least at the start, and that hostility is exactly what made him so compelling to me. Enemies-first energy done right - you can feel the tension crackling every time he's on the page, and watching that shift over the course of the book was so satisfying.

The Prince of Starlight: Her childhood friend, which changes the entire emotional register of his chapters. His tie to her could cost him everything, and that stakes-driven vulnerability made him hit differently than the others. There's a softness to him that doesn't feel weak, just genuinely caring, and I found myself wanting to protect him just as much as I wanted him to get his happy ending.

The King of Ice: Cruel, cold, exactly as advertised - and somehow still magnetic. He's the one I expected to dislike and instead couldn't stop paying attention to. There's clearly more underneath that coldness, and Hale doles it out slowly enough that you're never quite sure how much of the cruelty is real and how much is armor.

The King of Earth and Blood: Feral, feared across all four kingdoms, and easily the most intense of the four. His chapters hit the hardest emotionally for me - there's a rawness to how he's written that made him impossible to look away from, even when he was doing something I probably shouldn't have been rooting for.

And can we talk about Kyrie for a second? The FMC's thirteen-year-old little sister is an absolute spitfire, and I am so invested in watching her grow across this series. She only gets a fraction of the page time compared to the main five, but she made every scene she was in count.

Seriously — why choose. I could not pick a favorite if you asked me to, and I don't think I'm supposed to be able to. That's the whole point, and Hale executes it so well.

The ending has me desperate for the next book. This is easily one of my favorite reads of the year, and both the author and the narrators deserve every bit of credit for making it land the way it did.

Thank you to the author for the e-arc and alc!

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5
Spice: 2.5/5
Tropes: Reverse Harem / Why Choose, Fated Mates, Overprotective (touch her and die),

A girl who doesn't know how powerful she is (Rae) and an unexpected world of vampire kings, fated bonds, and danger pulls you in and doesn't let go. From the very first page, A Crown of Crimson and Crows had me hooked, and I was never bored. If you're looking for a palate cleanser or a fun, easy vibe read, then this absolutely delivers.

The story follows Rae, who discovers she isn't human at all but a Luminary from another realm, and that she's fated to bond with four others to keep her power balanced, a fact her mates aren't too happy with either. She spends the book piecing together a past she can't fully remember, learning to navigate old rivalries and relationships, and meeting the men tied to her fate.

The pacing, while addictive, was almost too fast, and I found myself craving more depth at nearly every turn. Too often I felt I was being told what the characters felt rather than shown it. There just wasn't enough internal dialogue to let me sit with Rae, or any of her mates. The banter was solid, but it never quite hit that laugh-out-loud wit that I was craving.

With four MMC's in the mix, there wasn't enough time to dig into each relationship. I wanted to see more of how the group actually functions and how these very different men fit together with Rae in the centre, but the groundwork just wasn't fully there yet. This was my first "why choose" read, so I'm really curious to see how the dynamics between all five of them evolve.

Each of the MMC's brings something different to Rae, but the book is too short, so I never got the connection with the MMC's that I wanted. I'm hoping that comes as the series continues. Rhys was my favourite so far. We get more of his backstory and the baggage he's wrestling with to actually understand him and his relationship with Rae. His arc is the one I'm most looking forward to seeing pay off.

The world-building is on level with a paranormal romance rather than a full-on Romantasy, but it had the potential to be so much more. In fact, I wanted more of everything: character development, world-building, and relationship depth. The plot and concent are really good, and even though the characters are still underdeveloped, I can absolutely see the foundation for a great found family series if Tessa leans into that going forward.

The spice level didn't feel forced, but as with the rest of my critique, I was just craving more emotional connection in those scenes too.

The ending was a complete surprise, and I'll definitely be reading book two.

If you loved ACOTAR and twilight but want something lighter that won't leave you with a book hangover, this will scratch that itch. And if you already love paranormal romance like Shadow and Light by Kim Richardson, this will be right up your street.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've just finished this new book by Tessa Hale (courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley), and overall, I really liked this start to the series, even if it felt like it was missing a bit of depth or a tad rushed.

The book has all the right building blocks, and I loved how gradually the world-building unfolds. We learn who Rae is, her background, why she disappeared, and what set her on this journey. We cross into all the Nocturnae lands (don't call them vampires!) to find her fated mates, meeting some lovely side characters along the way (shoutout to Pax, Kyrie, and of course, Odin and Bandit!) while coming face-to-face with the villain. Though I suspect there might be more than that one behind the scenes...

As for the characters, Rae is a great main character. She's super confused after getting uprooted from her normal life and studies (who wouldn't be?), then finding out she has magic and four fated mates? Yeah, completely understandable that she needs time to wrap her head around all of that. If only she had time to do so...
As for our lovely men, let's start with Rhys. We've actually met him in "The Wolves of Crescent Creek" series, and I've been dying to get his story! Even though he's protected Rae for over a decade, he's pushing back the hardest against the bond, making theirs the one I'm most eager to watch unfold. I expect the necessary fireworks :D
Next up is Kian, her childhood best friend who knew her before she was taken. He's super easygoing and all-in from the get-go (so sweet).
Then we have Nyx, a fellow botany enthusiast it seems, who keeps his walls high and constantly expects betrayal. I feel he is most like Rae, that there is a softer side that only comes out when he's around his cultivated plants.
And last but not least, Torrin, our feral fated mate. We know next to nothing about him except that Rae is the only thing he cares about. As for sharing her with the others? Well... yeah, good luck with that :D

There isn't much spice in this installment, apart from one yummy scene. But I'm sure that will pick up, as we've seen in earlier series!

As I said at the start, it did feel a bit superficial. All the scenes, emotions, and feels were there, but I thought it might have been a tad rushed (this could, however, just be me, so please take that into account!).

Still, I think that pretty much all the pieces are now on the board, and I'm excited to see where things go in book two. Just a heads-up, though, this book ends on a minor cliffhanger!

[Jacklyn Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 📕 Review-Crown Of Crimson And Crows- by Tessa Hale

ARC/ALC Review
RELEASE DATE:
SEPTEMBER 1st.

📖🎧- kindle and audible

Tropes, Triggers and genres-
Reverse Harem paranormal romance, vampires/witches, fated mates, kidnapping, stolen memories, 4 vampire mmc’s (kings), one childhood friend to lovers, a couple enemies to lovers, planned trilogy, ends on cliffhanger

Book- 1
FMC - Rae
MMC- Rhys, Kian, Nyx, Torrin
Overall- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice- ⭐️
Ending-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Audio- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🎧Vanessa Moyen, Anthony palmini, Connor Crais, Jason Clarke, Shane east, James Cassidy and Samantha brentmoor

My Thoughts:
Firstly I just want to give a big thanks for being able to get an ARC/ALC for the first book in Tessa Hales new Series, this is going to be a big hit I can already tell with book 1!

The voices on the audio are out of this world amazing!! They did such a great job! Really bringing the characters to life!

The writing/world building is so beautifully written I was immediately immersed into this new world with Rae and her men and all her struggles!

As a child she is taken and hidden in the human world by one of her mates, and how she came to be there is an even better piece of the story. She was protected, memories taken away, magic taken away, but that doesn’t seem to be holding anymore! So obviously the journey begins and see really starts learning who/what she really is… a witch… and her fated mate hates her/and her kind. The rejection of his words continually hurts my heart I swear, so obviously I hope that gets better!!
But she doesn’t just have one fated mate the gods have blessed her with 4, and one being her childhood best friend that have an instant connection too!
From here she is having a horrible time controlling/maintaining and just actually practicing her magic so her men are helping her all while trying to find her other two men. Obviously lots of drama happens surrounding the men, the previously betrothed from when she was a child, old memories from when she was a child, and her just trying to understand that this is her life now.
Her grandma and one of her sisters tries helping but even then her magic is just not doing anything she wants/needs it too.

This does end on a cliffhanger and it had me screaming at my kindle…. I just wanted everyone to be okay with each other and it just seemed no one was on good terms at the end of the book!! So now I can’t wait for book 2/3!!

[Kayla W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book left on a huge cliffhanger! I'm absolutely going to continue this series as it's a trilogy.

The core concept of this book is absolutely fantastic. Being fated to four different elemental kings creates an instant, intense dynamic full of complex magic and built-in tension. Tessa Hale builds a paranormal realm that is deeply immersive and highly engaging.

Rae (Soraya)
✨ The Power: Luminary Light Weaver

Kian (Prince of Starlight)
💨The Power: Kian commands the element of Air.
💨 The Bond: It was incredibly satisfying to see the fated bond between Rae and Rian successfully complete.
💨 The Nickname: Butterfly

Rhys (King of Firelight)
🔥 The Power: A fierce ruler who wields the element of Fire.
🔥 The Bond: While it is a bit upsetting that a bond has not fully formed with him yet, his personal growth is excellent. It is wonderful to watch him finally coming around to the reality that he is one of her four fated mates.
🔥The Nickname: Petite Étincelle

Nyx ("The Cruel King" of Demilune)
💧 The Power: A mysterious king who controls the element of Water.
💧 The Bond: Nyx is a fascinating character. He is just starting to entangle himself in the group's web, adding a great layer of mystery to the story.
💧The Nickname: Little Doe

Terrion ("The Feral King" of the Blood Moon)
🪨 The Power: A dangerous monarch who rules over the Earth.
🪨 The Bond: It is incredibly interesting to see Terrion come into the fold as the last and final fated mate. His arrival brings a whole new layer of excitement, and it will be thrilling to see how their story continues to develop.

I am intrigued to see how Rae’s connection with Olympia unfolds, alongside her evolving interactions with her sisters, Kyrie and Izzy. There is also a very compelling dynamic building with Calloway (Cal), the Prince of Luminaries. Most of all, I am dying to know what happens next with the demons—will they return to unleash more chaos, or is an even bigger, more dramatic twist on the horizon?

The pacing of the book is fantastic. I fully anticipate seeing more of the fated bonds click into place in the upcoming releases. The plot is building up beautifully.

Reviewed advance copy received from Netgalley Sourcebooks Bloom Books.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for sending me an advance copy to read and review..