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Blood Bought
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 27, 2026
DNFing this (150/381 pages)
What I loved:
- the two MCs
- the writing style
Why I DNFed and why I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone as a Jesus Follower, while still respecting the author:
Personal Foreword:
There were some theological contents that really troubled me while reading because - as this speculative fiction that takes the biblical book of Revelation as story basis - they are not biblical, such as there being a difference between a Believer and a Holy Spirit filled believer and having to wait for your gifts, people who are only believers not being sure whether they have eternal life, the Sword of the Spirit is supposedly a real sword to fine and John the Apostle is still alive....
Well: I did contact the autor directly for some clarification, and to her credit, she answered immediately and very kindly. She explained that she mixed theological content and made-up content (artistic freedom) and that she wants to make readers curious to read the bible. She also immediately took my suggestion to make these decisions clear in her foreword. Props to her for that!
I continued reading the book a bit more, but eventually I DNFed it. First and foremost, because I didn't feel spiritual peace while reading it:
1) while I get the part of mixing theology and artistic freedom, I still feel the book is confusing more than leading people (me) closer to Christ... I find it weird to mix real, true speculative future content (based on the book of Revelation) and own made-up prophecy, tales and theological content that doesn't fit the biblical frame. The whole biblical faith is kinda thrown around without explanation - like, IYKYK, but it's not explained for Non-Christians. At the same time, as mentioned, there are some theological contents that are not biblical and not helpful in leading people closer to Jesus. If you wanna make up tales and the theological content for a faith system, go for it, but within a whole new fantasy setting. I'm fine with that (to a certain extent). But taking biblical prophecy and making it extremely obvious and then mixing it with own stuff... nah uh. I really can't approve of that.
I tried to overlook this, I thought, I'll at least finish the book and not read the sequel. But I found no motivation to keep on reading:
2) honestly, I don't find it interesting enough to keep investing time into reading it. the romance is nice but not swooney, and the plot doesnt really catch me either... No hate for the author, every audience is different, and I think I'm simply not the right target audience for the book/style of storytelling.
What I loved:
- the two MCs
- the writing style
Why I DNFed and why I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone as a Jesus Follower, while still respecting the author:
Personal Foreword:
There were some theological contents that really troubled me while reading because - as this speculative fiction that takes the biblical book of Revelation as story basis - they are not biblical, such as there being a difference between a Believer and a Holy Spirit filled believer and having to wait for your gifts, people who are only believers not being sure whether they have eternal life, the Sword of the Spirit is supposedly a real sword to fine and John the Apostle is still alive....
Well: I did contact the autor directly for some clarification, and to her credit, she answered immediately and very kindly. She explained that she mixed theological content and made-up content (artistic freedom) and that she wants to make readers curious to read the bible. She also immediately took my suggestion to make these decisions clear in her foreword. Props to her for that!
I continued reading the book a bit more, but eventually I DNFed it. First and foremost, because I didn't feel spiritual peace while reading it:
1) while I get the part of mixing theology and artistic freedom, I still feel the book is confusing more than leading people (me) closer to Christ... I find it weird to mix real, true speculative future content (based on the book of Revelation) and own made-up prophecy, tales and theological content that doesn't fit the biblical frame. The whole biblical faith is kinda thrown around without explanation - like, IYKYK, but it's not explained for Non-Christians. At the same time, as mentioned, there are some theological contents that are not biblical and not helpful in leading people closer to Jesus. If you wanna make up tales and the theological content for a faith system, go for it, but within a whole new fantasy setting. I'm fine with that (to a certain extent). But taking biblical prophecy and making it extremely obvious and then mixing it with own stuff... nah uh. I really can't approve of that.
I tried to overlook this, I thought, I'll at least finish the book and not read the sequel. But I found no motivation to keep on reading:
2) honestly, I don't find it interesting enough to keep investing time into reading it. the romance is nice but not swooney, and the plot doesnt really catch me either... No hate for the author, every audience is different, and I think I'm simply not the right target audience for the book/style of storytelling.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received and advanced copy of this book and WOW WOW WOW!!! Fantasy? Christianity? Appalachian folklore? Um, when is Book 2???
“a generation of distracted souls” - Right?!
“Humans have failed but creation continues to obey him. There’s something poetic about the sight.” - This sticks❤️
I have so many feelings. There is such relatability throughout the entire book….the struggle we all go through between life, faith, and the higher purpose. The Christian themes are so intricately woven throughout…. I honestly was hooked from one of the first pages: “a generation of distracted souls” - isn’t that the truth?! The story is beautiful, tragic, funny, and thought provoking. There are so many moments I related to specifically. It may be a dark fantasy, but it connects to present day on so many levels.
Being from Appalachia made reading this an even better experience. The imagery, the Appalachian folklore…it really paints a picture.
Ex 💔❤️🩹 But isn’t that part of life? Understanding His purpose and His time is not our own. That having faith doesn’t mean an absence of tragedy or heartache??? Hardships will happen, but it doesn’t discredit Him!
Sempronius 😭 I did indeed send the author a message with a lot of exclamation points as I got to a certain part of the plot and my jaw was hitting the floor….as I shouted SEMPRONIUS in disbelief 😂 A strong male character that shows us that mistakes happen, lessons happen, and we can’t let ourselves be discouraged by our failings….there can be redemption, there can be a saving grace.
Adonirum 🩷🩷 So. Dang. Funny! The character we all need in our lives! His sayings and just feeling an Appalachian connection were 10/10!
Relating to Perpetua and the struggles she went through in both understanding His timing and questioning her own faith…woof- that hits!
Tiberius- holding himself back. Right?!! Don’t we all?! We have those moments and let life get in our head…
When the Blood Bought were burnt. Perpetua and Victoriana losing their light….the scream I SCRUMPT!
Dragons!! MOUNTAIN LION😍!! Giants! What’s not to love?! Give me all the fantasy elements!
I truly had so many reactions. Beautifully written, connecting fantasy to reality and spirituality was something I didn’t know I needed…I loved this & I’m ready to head back to the mountains for Book 2!
“a generation of distracted souls” - Right?!
“Humans have failed but creation continues to obey him. There’s something poetic about the sight.” - This sticks❤️
I have so many feelings. There is such relatability throughout the entire book….the struggle we all go through between life, faith, and the higher purpose. The Christian themes are so intricately woven throughout…. I honestly was hooked from one of the first pages: “a generation of distracted souls” - isn’t that the truth?! The story is beautiful, tragic, funny, and thought provoking. There are so many moments I related to specifically. It may be a dark fantasy, but it connects to present day on so many levels.
Being from Appalachia made reading this an even better experience. The imagery, the Appalachian folklore…it really paints a picture.
Ex 💔❤️🩹 But isn’t that part of life? Understanding His purpose and His time is not our own. That having faith doesn’t mean an absence of tragedy or heartache??? Hardships will happen, but it doesn’t discredit Him!
Sempronius 😭 I did indeed send the author a message with a lot of exclamation points as I got to a certain part of the plot and my jaw was hitting the floor….as I shouted SEMPRONIUS in disbelief 😂 A strong male character that shows us that mistakes happen, lessons happen, and we can’t let ourselves be discouraged by our failings….there can be redemption, there can be a saving grace.
Adonirum 🩷🩷 So. Dang. Funny! The character we all need in our lives! His sayings and just feeling an Appalachian connection were 10/10!
Relating to Perpetua and the struggles she went through in both understanding His timing and questioning her own faith…woof- that hits!
Tiberius- holding himself back. Right?!! Don’t we all?! We have those moments and let life get in our head…
When the Blood Bought were burnt. Perpetua and Victoriana losing their light….the scream I SCRUMPT!
Dragons!! MOUNTAIN LION😍!! Giants! What’s not to love?! Give me all the fantasy elements!
I truly had so many reactions. Beautifully written, connecting fantasy to reality and spirituality was something I didn’t know I needed…I loved this & I’m ready to head back to the mountains for Book 2!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I had the privilege of reading this book as a beta reader! And I’ll be very clear right off the bat—I give honest, non-biased reviews.
Let me tell you, Blood Bought is incredible. I honestly haven’t read anything like it. I’ve dipped into the fantasy genre before, but this story is truly unique. It’s Christian fantasy, and I think a lot of people would expect that to be cheesy. BUT. IT. IS. NOT.
The world is set in the heart of Appalachia (where I live!), where all those eerie creatures from mountain folklore coexist with biblical beings. Fallen angels, dragons, Nephilim, cryptids—you name it, they’re roaming those hills, making the characters’ journey even more dangerous than it already is. There was one scene (no spoilers!) where the creature was so creepy I almost had to skim the pages…but I’m a wimp, and that’s a compliment! I had goosebumps while reading.
The biblical themes woven throughout were top-notch. Nothing felt preachy, and every reference served the story and deepened the world. The characters are on a quest, guided by ancient prophecies and learning to trust the voice and gifts that come from the Ancient of Days. Some are gifted with healing, prophecy, and other spiritual gifts, and they have to depend on one another to discern the path ahead.
Now, the characters. Sempronius…swoon. If you love Aragorn, you’re going to love this guy. Perpetua is incredibly relatable and so easy to connect with. And Adonirum? Let’s just say you’re going to adore him and his Appalachian sayings!
I genuinely can’t believe this is a debut novel. The writing is stellar. I stayed up way too late one night because I absolutely had to finish it. My husband even noticed I was chewing my thumbnail—a sure sign I’m completely immersed in another world haha. When he asked if the book was good, I told him, “This could rival any mainstream fantasy book out there.”
And the best part? The romance. There’s no spice, and there doesn’t need to be. You can feel the tension, the longing, and the quiet yearning. It’s the kind of romance that makes you sigh because it’s just so beautiful.
I LOVE this book. I can’t wait to buy a hard copy for my shelf so I can reread it and so my older kids can read it too.
Most of all, I can’t wait for the rest of the series!
Let me tell you, Blood Bought is incredible. I honestly haven’t read anything like it. I’ve dipped into the fantasy genre before, but this story is truly unique. It’s Christian fantasy, and I think a lot of people would expect that to be cheesy. BUT. IT. IS. NOT.
The world is set in the heart of Appalachia (where I live!), where all those eerie creatures from mountain folklore coexist with biblical beings. Fallen angels, dragons, Nephilim, cryptids—you name it, they’re roaming those hills, making the characters’ journey even more dangerous than it already is. There was one scene (no spoilers!) where the creature was so creepy I almost had to skim the pages…but I’m a wimp, and that’s a compliment! I had goosebumps while reading.
The biblical themes woven throughout were top-notch. Nothing felt preachy, and every reference served the story and deepened the world. The characters are on a quest, guided by ancient prophecies and learning to trust the voice and gifts that come from the Ancient of Days. Some are gifted with healing, prophecy, and other spiritual gifts, and they have to depend on one another to discern the path ahead.
Now, the characters. Sempronius…swoon. If you love Aragorn, you’re going to love this guy. Perpetua is incredibly relatable and so easy to connect with. And Adonirum? Let’s just say you’re going to adore him and his Appalachian sayings!
I genuinely can’t believe this is a debut novel. The writing is stellar. I stayed up way too late one night because I absolutely had to finish it. My husband even noticed I was chewing my thumbnail—a sure sign I’m completely immersed in another world haha. When he asked if the book was good, I told him, “This could rival any mainstream fantasy book out there.”
And the best part? The romance. There’s no spice, and there doesn’t need to be. You can feel the tension, the longing, and the quiet yearning. It’s the kind of romance that makes you sigh because it’s just so beautiful.
I LOVE this book. I can’t wait to buy a hard copy for my shelf so I can reread it and so my older kids can read it too.
Most of all, I can’t wait for the rest of the series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I read Blood Bought, a debut fantasy novel by author Lisa Estep.
The world is walking forward to a battle between those who seek to save souls…and those who wish to end them. The scales are unbalanced in favor of the malevolent. And those who would seek to join the fight live in fear.
A brave group of righteous travel the mountains seeking the fated weapon needed for the apocalyptic showdown. As they encounter trials, hunger, the elements, monsters, deception, betrayal and loss will they be able to keep the faith? And will love be found decidedly worth it if tragedy could be on the horizon?
This story absolutely does not read like a debut novel. It’s solid. Lovely. There is atmospheric energy, suspense, twists, moments of humor…and heartbreak.
The character development is so well done. Attaching to them while reading is natural, easy. Their emotions lifted off the page to me while reading.
The book has all the things I look for in a fantasy book. As well as the palpable yearning of the two main characters as they navigate feelings for one another other under unprecedented circumstances with unknown high risk and high stakes outcomes.
The book has a plot based in Christianity and its woven in the dialogue seamlessly, along with mountain folklore, adventure, strong and complicated friendships and hard core villains.
I look forward to book 2 and the continuation of the journey.
Definitely recommend.
I received an advanced read copy from the author. This is my voluntary and honest review.
The world is walking forward to a battle between those who seek to save souls…and those who wish to end them. The scales are unbalanced in favor of the malevolent. And those who would seek to join the fight live in fear.
A brave group of righteous travel the mountains seeking the fated weapon needed for the apocalyptic showdown. As they encounter trials, hunger, the elements, monsters, deception, betrayal and loss will they be able to keep the faith? And will love be found decidedly worth it if tragedy could be on the horizon?
This story absolutely does not read like a debut novel. It’s solid. Lovely. There is atmospheric energy, suspense, twists, moments of humor…and heartbreak.
The character development is so well done. Attaching to them while reading is natural, easy. Their emotions lifted off the page to me while reading.
The book has all the things I look for in a fantasy book. As well as the palpable yearning of the two main characters as they navigate feelings for one another other under unprecedented circumstances with unknown high risk and high stakes outcomes.
The book has a plot based in Christianity and its woven in the dialogue seamlessly, along with mountain folklore, adventure, strong and complicated friendships and hard core villains.
I look forward to book 2 and the continuation of the journey.
Definitely recommend.
I received an advanced read copy from the author. This is my voluntary and honest review.
July 12, 2026
I received an ARC of this book and my goodness I’m glad I did!! The writing is phenomenal and the author clearly did her research. This is a Christian fantasy novel so it’s clean. No cursing and no smut. But let me tell you!!! I read a lot of books that include those… and this novel is NOT lacking without them. There’s dragons, giants, magical gifts, found family, and the most wonderful broody MMC… not to mention the hilarious side characters you quickly fall for.
Even if you aren’t into religion please don’t the Christian part of the description steer you from this book. It does not over power the fantasy aspect.. it simply adds to the characters and their journeys. It’s beautifully written. Plenty of other popular fantasy books mention “gods” and prayer..and no one bats an eye.
I’m looking forward to the next book!
Even if you aren’t into religion please don’t the Christian part of the description steer you from this book. It does not over power the fantasy aspect.. it simply adds to the characters and their journeys. It’s beautifully written. Plenty of other popular fantasy books mention “gods” and prayer..and no one bats an eye.
I’m looking forward to the next book!
July 5, 2026
I received an advanced copy of Blood Bought by Lisa Esteep and WOWWW!!! This book definitely does not read like a debut novel!
Honestly, I went into this book not expecting to like it as much as I did. The suspense, yearning, heartbreak and fantasy aspects are beautifully wrapped in a faith based masterpiece!
There is so much to love about this book-I love that this book is set in Appalachia, as I am from the area. The folklore accompanied by fantasy aspects are surprisingly a great combination!
This book is brilliant, heart felt and thought provoking.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and am so excited for the second book!
Honestly, I went into this book not expecting to like it as much as I did. The suspense, yearning, heartbreak and fantasy aspects are beautifully wrapped in a faith based masterpiece!
There is so much to love about this book-I love that this book is set in Appalachia, as I am from the area. The folklore accompanied by fantasy aspects are surprisingly a great combination!
This book is brilliant, heart felt and thought provoking.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and am so excited for the second book!
July 23, 2026
Absolutely incredible! I was hooked before I even finished the first chapter! I laughed, I cried, and I got chills more than once. The characters are more relatable than you expect. There’s heart-fluttering romantic moments without all the extra stuff (if you know what I mean). Dragons? Yep. Moments where you wanna scream at that one particular character? More than once! But it all comes together in a beautiful way with a twist you won’t expect. It hits you with the truth of the world without suffocating you. This book quickly became one of my most favorite books. Your life is about to change :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2026
This book kept me on my toes! It was hard to predict what happens next. One minute everything is fine, the next chaos. The author does a fantastic job of giving each character their own personality and voice. I especially loved all of Adonirum’s “southernisms.” 😆 This book also didn’t hold back on its emotional gut punches. I cried multiple times 🥺 But the ending leaves you filled with hope. ❤️ I loved the sweet romance between Sempronius and Perpetua. So many cute moments between them. While there were a few things that took me out of the story at times, those didn’t stop me from getting hooked and thoroughly enjoying this book. Congrats on a wonderful debut novel, Lisa! 👏🏽
August 29, 2026
This book was fascinating! It was my first Christian "fantasy" book to read in quite a long time, and I didn't know what to expect, but WOW! The Bible itself has fantastical moments, and I love how the author wove in so many verses, facts, and themes from it. Everything she chose to use (names, descriptions, references, themes) within the pages was selected with a specific purpose, and it all landed. Someone with no Bible knowledge would still be able to follow the story, and maybe even get their interest piqued enough to pick up a Bible for themselves! Excited for this new author's journey and can't wait for the next installment!
August 15, 2026
This story was such an amazing treat to read. A well-written fantasy tale that has truly intense and emotional scenes, lighter moments and banter, and clean romance. The world-building is intriguing, and the faith based lines and characters worked flawlessly. All this together made for a fabulous and at times heart-wrenching read, one I truly enjoyed. And even more impressive is that it’s a debut.
I’d highly recommend this story, I can’t wait to see what Lisa brings us next.
I’d highly recommend this story, I can’t wait to see what Lisa brings us next.
August 17, 2026
Let me start by saying I am not a fantasy reader so I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to connect to the story or the characters. Well, I definitely connected! I became immersed in every detail of the story and found myself thinking about the characters and what the next chapter would bring. The way Scripture was woven into the story was beautiful. This book was full of adventure, suspense, wisdom and the romance was 10/10! I can’t wait for the next book!
August 21, 2026
Great debut novel!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews