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Bloodborn
Not yet published
Expected 1 Jul 26Four warriors died in flames.
The Darkborn rose from the ashes.
Sylas the Wolf. Thorne the Red. Arless the Huntress. Lucian the Shield Breaker.
Four names carved into legend. Four warriors resurrected by the goddess of death and cursed with immortality. Together, they are the Darkborn—Protectors of the North, bound by blood and an unbreakable bond woven from hunger, pain, and rage.
For years, the Darkborn have held the North. Led by Sylas, they’ve kept the rot from scourging the land and their monstrous hunger contained. But when Sylas rescues the princess of a rival kingdom from an enemy dungeon, the gods deal their cruelest hand yet. Evangeline may be the key to ending the Butcher King’s tyranny, and the goddess of death has tasked the Darkborn with her protection. But the instant Sylas sensed the princess, a monstrous hunger woke inside him that cannot be mastered. And having her is a line he can never cross.
While Arless and Thorne protect the North against the Butcher King's armies, Sylas and Lucian scour the South for answers to save the realm. As Sylas fights his hunger that only sharpens, Lucian discovers the Darkborn aren't the only monsters the gods created.
Perfect for fans of gritty Viking vibes, found family forged in ruin, and spicy, slow-burn romance that will wreck you.
Bloodborn is the first novel in The Darkborn, an epic dark fantasy romance series where immortal warriors, scheming gods, and forbidden hunger collide. In Röthgard, love is the cruelest curse of all.
*Visit the author's website for trigger warnings and content notes.
A Viking-inspired dark fantasy romance perfect for fans of The Road of Bones and The Witcher, with the immortal warrior found family dynamics of Black Dagger Brotherhood.
The Darkborn rose from the ashes.
Sylas the Wolf. Thorne the Red. Arless the Huntress. Lucian the Shield Breaker.
Four names carved into legend. Four warriors resurrected by the goddess of death and cursed with immortality. Together, they are the Darkborn—Protectors of the North, bound by blood and an unbreakable bond woven from hunger, pain, and rage.
For years, the Darkborn have held the North. Led by Sylas, they’ve kept the rot from scourging the land and their monstrous hunger contained. But when Sylas rescues the princess of a rival kingdom from an enemy dungeon, the gods deal their cruelest hand yet. Evangeline may be the key to ending the Butcher King’s tyranny, and the goddess of death has tasked the Darkborn with her protection. But the instant Sylas sensed the princess, a monstrous hunger woke inside him that cannot be mastered. And having her is a line he can never cross.
While Arless and Thorne protect the North against the Butcher King's armies, Sylas and Lucian scour the South for answers to save the realm. As Sylas fights his hunger that only sharpens, Lucian discovers the Darkborn aren't the only monsters the gods created.
Perfect for fans of gritty Viking vibes, found family forged in ruin, and spicy, slow-burn romance that will wreck you.
Bloodborn is the first novel in The Darkborn, an epic dark fantasy romance series where immortal warriors, scheming gods, and forbidden hunger collide. In Röthgard, love is the cruelest curse of all.
*Visit the author's website for trigger warnings and content notes.
A Viking-inspired dark fantasy romance perfect for fans of The Road of Bones and The Witcher, with the immortal warrior found family dynamics of Black Dagger Brotherhood.
324 pages, ebook
Expected publication July 1, 2026
About the author
Harley Blackwell
3 books27 followersBy day, Harley writes survival romance under a different name. By night, she steps into darker worlds where desire is dangerous and everything comes with a cost. Her stories are beautiful, brutal, and always leave a mark.
When she’s not writing, Harley can be found wandering the marshes with her own brooding hero, or dreaming up her next tortured soul and plotting how far she can push him before he breaks.
When she’s not writing, Harley can be found wandering the marshes with her own brooding hero, or dreaming up her next tortured soul and plotting how far she can push him before he breaks.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 26, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Harley Blackwell for an ARC copy of this book. It is SUCH a wild ride and I'm thrilled to be part of it. Cause... vampires... vikings... and so many other tropes I don't want to say cause... you don't want the spoilers... take my word for it. You need to be allowed to absolutely indulge them when they happen!
While it’s not a prerequisite, absolutely take my advice and READ the prequel novella. While it will leave you positively GUTTED, to understand the depths of their situation, rage and sorrow, you can’t positively get it, until you’ve lived through that. Trust me on this.
We are following four of Hel’s warriors as she tries to bring order to the world being overrun with chaos, magic, blight and evil. I’m getting a viking warrior, Nordic clansman vibe – Sylas the Wolf, Thorne the Red, Arless the Huntress and Lucian the Shield Breaker.
Our MC’s each have lost much but together this rebirth gave them a bond, and a hunger that can’t quite be sated yet they are still trying to cling to pieces of their humanity. Learning to control this impulse is step one… because they can’t expect anyone to rally behind them if they can’t be trusted to control themselves long enough to ready them for battle. And battle they must… against evil, against magic and against the same fire that consumed them that they were reborn from.
I love our quiet protector… his story was probably my favorite and WOW it went somewhere other than where I expected... And... man... Whew. That was hawt.... damn.... okay... circle back around, April... focus... focus...
Aaaannnnnnnnyway... the angst, the pain, the rage... it's practically palpable. I mean, you can feel their personal torment of being what they must while detesting what they’ve become.
During a battle they acquire a possession of their enemy - a person of great importance and my only criticism is that the conversations with this person… absolutely did not feel like something equal to their age. It felt like a room of adults talking. Plus, knowing what we know, they wouldn’t be privy to the knowledge that is revealed. Things that are said, and exchanges made that just felt way out of place which kind of drew me out a little because I was like… naaaah this never could have happened.
The book covers quite an extended timespan and is often updated with that passage through an epistolary journal entry style. I can picture in my head pages being ripped off of a calendar and just flying into the nether until we come to the next with the image of chaos and war going on in the background (yes,I have quite a vivid imagination). LOL
Their bond is pulled thread bare as they have to separate on their journeys… and those frayed threads finally rip at the end…. And WOW what a cliffhanger.
Two of my favorite quotes:
“Bloom where I might still find you.”
“...the world remembers what it loses.”
Thank you to Harley Blackwell for an ARC copy of this book. It is SUCH a wild ride and I'm thrilled to be part of it. Cause... vampires... vikings... and so many other tropes I don't want to say cause... you don't want the spoilers... take my word for it. You need to be allowed to absolutely indulge them when they happen!
While it’s not a prerequisite, absolutely take my advice and READ the prequel novella. While it will leave you positively GUTTED, to understand the depths of their situation, rage and sorrow, you can’t positively get it, until you’ve lived through that. Trust me on this.
We are following four of Hel’s warriors as she tries to bring order to the world being overrun with chaos, magic, blight and evil. I’m getting a viking warrior, Nordic clansman vibe – Sylas the Wolf, Thorne the Red, Arless the Huntress and Lucian the Shield Breaker.
Our MC’s each have lost much but together this rebirth gave them a bond, and a hunger that can’t quite be sated yet they are still trying to cling to pieces of their humanity. Learning to control this impulse is step one… because they can’t expect anyone to rally behind them if they can’t be trusted to control themselves long enough to ready them for battle. And battle they must… against evil, against magic and against the same fire that consumed them that they were reborn from.
I love our quiet protector… his story was probably my favorite and WOW it went somewhere other than where I expected... And... man... Whew. That was hawt.... damn.... okay... circle back around, April... focus... focus...
Aaaannnnnnnnyway... the angst, the pain, the rage... it's practically palpable. I mean, you can feel their personal torment of being what they must while detesting what they’ve become.
During a battle they acquire a possession of their enemy - a person of great importance and my only criticism is that the conversations with this person… absolutely did not feel like something equal to their age. It felt like a room of adults talking. Plus, knowing what we know, they wouldn’t be privy to the knowledge that is revealed. Things that are said, and exchanges made that just felt way out of place which kind of drew me out a little because I was like… naaaah this never could have happened.
The book covers quite an extended timespan and is often updated with that passage through an epistolary journal entry style. I can picture in my head pages being ripped off of a calendar and just flying into the nether until we come to the next with the image of chaos and war going on in the background (yes,I have quite a vivid imagination). LOL
Their bond is pulled thread bare as they have to separate on their journeys… and those frayed threads finally rip at the end…. And WOW what a cliffhanger.
Two of my favorite quotes:
“Bloom where I might still find you.”
“...the world remembers what it loses.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as a Kindle ARC. My first. So glad i volunteered with this author. If you like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or Jay Kristoff's Vampire Empire trilogy (and is there anyone who doesn't?)- You will love this. I just finished and cannot wait for book 2. The characters are all so interesting and human (especially those who are not). Each voice is distinct and together weave a creative tale of Norse mythology, human desires and the ongoing quest we all face to know who we are and to do what is right. I am going to grab the prequels now while I wait for book 2. This was carefully plotted to ensure those unfamiliar with the characters were quickly engaged in gripping narration, and I nevwr felt the loss of this background. It is just that book 2 is not ready yet and I need to spend more time with these new friends. Like Jay's books this dark fantasy ends on a cliff hanger; unlike jay's books everyone I love is still alive. Plenty of action, real characterisation, nicely integrated norse mythology with Hell and her father's intervention in the lives of mortals. A quest based novel that has me hooked. Read it! i can't wait for the Kickstarter signed Hard back Special Editions. They'll sit on my shelf besid Mr Kristoff's.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Book One of The Darkborn is even better than the prequel!
After finishing Runemarked, I decided to read this one next. The prequel had me crying, this one has me in shock. These four warriors have been so much and their trials and tribulations are not over yet. What a great story. There are so many battles and fighting, which is to be expected from a Norse story. In this one, we also deal with relationships, not only between the four “Darkborn,” but also with their allies, enemies and everyone around them. Not to mention, there were quite a few unexpected surprises as well. I honestly cannot recommend this story highly enough and I can’t wait for the next in the series!
I received a free advanced reader’s copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.
After finishing Runemarked, I decided to read this one next. The prequel had me crying, this one has me in shock. These four warriors have been so much and their trials and tribulations are not over yet. What a great story. There are so many battles and fighting, which is to be expected from a Norse story. In this one, we also deal with relationships, not only between the four “Darkborn,” but also with their allies, enemies and everyone around them. Not to mention, there were quite a few unexpected surprises as well. I honestly cannot recommend this story highly enough and I can’t wait for the next in the series!
I received a free advanced reader’s copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book, it's super interesting, with great potential. The characters are awesome and nuanced, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the story.
However, I think some of the large time jumps were unnecessary, and I wish we had more information about everything that happens during those times, especially towards the beginning when they are figuring out how to be Darkborn.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book, it's super interesting, with great potential. The characters are awesome and nuanced, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the story.
However, I think some of the large time jumps were unnecessary, and I wish we had more information about everything that happens during those times, especially towards the beginning when they are figuring out how to be Darkborn.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Clans, warriors, Shield maidens Loki, Hel. Vampire, shifters; all tied in nerve wracking bow. Gagged. The folklore, and mythology in this tale left me wanting more. The heartache our main characters endure; fighting a battle that seems impossible to win... The yearning, gods! I just wanted to shake them! The next book can't come soon enough.
June 27, 2026
Thank you Harley Blackwell for the eARC!
I liked the storyline of this book but it tried to focus a little too much on the spicy. And at times the relationships were a bit confusing because of the “need” for spice. I just wanted more of the actual war/Barron/Mortis plot than the rest. The spicy just broken things up for me.
I liked the storyline of this book but it tried to focus a little too much on the spicy. And at times the relationships were a bit confusing because of the “need” for spice. I just wanted more of the actual war/Barron/Mortis plot than the rest. The spicy just broken things up for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this book!!! I can NOT wait to see what happens with Silas in the next book!! Really great multi person POV. 10/10 recommend!!!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews