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Bloodgrove
When disgraced interior designer William Frank is hired to renovate a ballroom in the secluded city-state of Bloodgrove, he sees one last chance to save his reputation.
Once celebrated in the capital, Will’s career collapsed after he was accused of practicing magic. Bloodgrove should be an a private commission, a wealthy patron, and enough distance from scandal to begin again.
But Duchess Elodie Ormonde is no ordinary client. As the last of her bloodline, she is locked in a ruthless struggle against the city’s noble houses for the coveted title of the King’s Red Hand. Her biggest rival is Eric Arcos—merciless, brilliant, and, most dangerously of all, beautiful.
As Bloodgrove’s dark halls reveal their secrets, Will is drawn deeper into a world of ruthless ambition and treacherous desires. Caught between Elodie and Eric, he must face his magic before Bloodgrove devours him whole.
A beautifully grotesque and gothic romantasy.
Once celebrated in the capital, Will’s career collapsed after he was accused of practicing magic. Bloodgrove should be an a private commission, a wealthy patron, and enough distance from scandal to begin again.
But Duchess Elodie Ormonde is no ordinary client. As the last of her bloodline, she is locked in a ruthless struggle against the city’s noble houses for the coveted title of the King’s Red Hand. Her biggest rival is Eric Arcos—merciless, brilliant, and, most dangerously of all, beautiful.
As Bloodgrove’s dark halls reveal their secrets, Will is drawn deeper into a world of ruthless ambition and treacherous desires. Caught between Elodie and Eric, he must face his magic before Bloodgrove devours him whole.
A beautifully grotesque and gothic romantasy.
350 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 303 reviews
September 2, 2026
stunning blood magic + what if Alucard, Trevor and Sypha chose each other
September 1, 2026
The characters? Delectable. The atmosphere? Divine. Elisabeth G. Mark brought her hauntingly beautiful world of Bloodgrove to life through the pages and I enjoyed soaking in every sordid moment of it.
August 9, 2026
*I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
3.5 Stars
I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it didn’t land the best for me. The atmosphere is there; it is gothic, gritty, and spooky magical. There is some gore with the monsters, and the blood magic is a really fun concept. The dynamic between the 3 main characters was interesting and created a lot of drama. There's love, violence, a mystery, betrayal, and ancient gods. I think this book has great bones but needs to be a little bit more fleshed out for me to really, really enjoy it.
I found myself having to reread pages multiple times (which I don’t very often do) to understand what was happening in the scene. The plot and scenes felt disjointed at times. Like it wasn’t completely thought out how one scene would flow into another, which took me out of the amazing atmosphere that the author created. The author does a great job describing each scene by itself in a way that is really easy to visualize, but then it would go into another scene, and I’d be confused about how we got there (Like things were missing in between). Each scene in the book was done well, but they didn’t all flow together in a way that made sense and was easy to read for me.
I by no means think this is a terrible book. I had a good time reading it. I just wished it flowed better for me, and I probably would have rated it higher.
3.5 Stars
I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it didn’t land the best for me. The atmosphere is there; it is gothic, gritty, and spooky magical. There is some gore with the monsters, and the blood magic is a really fun concept. The dynamic between the 3 main characters was interesting and created a lot of drama. There's love, violence, a mystery, betrayal, and ancient gods. I think this book has great bones but needs to be a little bit more fleshed out for me to really, really enjoy it.
I found myself having to reread pages multiple times (which I don’t very often do) to understand what was happening in the scene. The plot and scenes felt disjointed at times. Like it wasn’t completely thought out how one scene would flow into another, which took me out of the amazing atmosphere that the author created. The author does a great job describing each scene by itself in a way that is really easy to visualize, but then it would go into another scene, and I’d be confused about how we got there (Like things were missing in between). Each scene in the book was done well, but they didn’t all flow together in a way that made sense and was easy to read for me.
I by no means think this is a terrible book. I had a good time reading it. I just wished it flowed better for me, and I probably would have rated it higher.
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August 15, 2026First and foremost, thank you to the Author for my copy - I received an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion.
I really reaaaaally wanted to love this book, however I just couldn’t get into it, which is such a shame.
The author did an amazing job at setting the scene - the gothic setting and the political climate of Bloodgrove was very clear and beautifully illustrated to the reader… it was dark, it was gritty, and it was cooky, I couldn’t ask for more atmosphere. The monsters and the gods aspect of the book I really enjoyed too: it was very refreshing to not have them romanticised and the terror and threat of it all felt very real for the narrative.
The characters were interesting and their dynamic was fun and enjoyable.. the 🌶️ scenes and the tension were second to none.
I just think where the book fell a bit flat for me was the pacing: I found myself having to reread pages to check that I hadn’t missed something and it felt like key concepts and information in the book where glazed over a bit too quickly for my liking. I love a fast paced story but some parts felt waaaay too fast, and I wish as the reader we would have been given more time to really take in the story that was being told and take in the beautiful world that is being built around us. I think because of this I just couldn’t get my teeth sunk into it, which is a real shame.
I do still want to read it’s Sequel, which is expected in 2027, as the concept and the world created is beautiful, it just didn’t wet my whistle as much as I expected it to..
I really reaaaaally wanted to love this book, however I just couldn’t get into it, which is such a shame.
The author did an amazing job at setting the scene - the gothic setting and the political climate of Bloodgrove was very clear and beautifully illustrated to the reader… it was dark, it was gritty, and it was cooky, I couldn’t ask for more atmosphere. The monsters and the gods aspect of the book I really enjoyed too: it was very refreshing to not have them romanticised and the terror and threat of it all felt very real for the narrative.
The characters were interesting and their dynamic was fun and enjoyable.. the 🌶️ scenes and the tension were second to none.
I just think where the book fell a bit flat for me was the pacing: I found myself having to reread pages to check that I hadn’t missed something and it felt like key concepts and information in the book where glazed over a bit too quickly for my liking. I love a fast paced story but some parts felt waaaay too fast, and I wish as the reader we would have been given more time to really take in the story that was being told and take in the beautiful world that is being built around us. I think because of this I just couldn’t get my teeth sunk into it, which is a real shame.
I do still want to read it’s Sequel, which is expected in 2027, as the concept and the world created is beautiful, it just didn’t wet my whistle as much as I expected it to..
September 15, 2026
5 ⭐!!!!!
Bloodgrove completely consumed me!?
I went into this expecting to enjoy it, but I was NOT prepared for how obsessed I would become like omg this booook!!!
This was everything I want vampires, blood magic, political schemes, dark secrets and an atmosphere so haunting and immersive that I never wanted to leave!!!
The worldbuilding had me HOOKED! THE CHARACTERS!
Will completely stole my heart. I loved how caring and emotional he was, and the dynamic between him, Elodie, and Eric was everything. They’re all so complicated and morally grey, and the tension between the three of them had me absolutely glued to the page.
And the MMF/Why Choose romance?? I ATE IT UP I really love why choose🤌🏻🔥 iam just a girl.
Also loved that it was from Wills POV.
That ending left me desperate for the next book. I am absolutely not ready to let this world go!! 🖤🤌🏻🔥
Bloodgrove completely consumed me!?
I went into this expecting to enjoy it, but I was NOT prepared for how obsessed I would become like omg this booook!!!
This was everything I want vampires, blood magic, political schemes, dark secrets and an atmosphere so haunting and immersive that I never wanted to leave!!!
The worldbuilding had me HOOKED! THE CHARACTERS!
Will completely stole my heart. I loved how caring and emotional he was, and the dynamic between him, Elodie, and Eric was everything. They’re all so complicated and morally grey, and the tension between the three of them had me absolutely glued to the page.
And the MMF/Why Choose romance?? I ATE IT UP I really love why choose🤌🏻🔥 iam just a girl.
Also loved that it was from Wills POV.
That ending left me desperate for the next book. I am absolutely not ready to let this world go!! 🖤🤌🏻🔥
September 7, 2026
Thank you to Elizabeth Mark for giving me an early copy of Bloodgrove.
Lets start with the positives the setting was great! It is the perfect Gothic fantasy atmosphere that makes it feel eerie and has you turning your head around every corner. I wanted to know more about the capital and where Will we from.
Unfortunately everything else fell flat for me. I was really intrigued with the characters but when intimate scenes got involved whether it was with the FMC or MMC or Will's God it distracted from the plot a bit and all i wanted to do was go back to the actual mission Will was on. I would of liked to see the other character's povs I think it would of helped with the progression of the story. The power system and magic frustrated me I was so confused on how people became powerful and Will's powers until it was revealed 70% through the book and to me a reader should not be confused about the power system in a book. Also who is able to use magic? Still confused on that one. Like can the people in the capital use blood magic if allowed? Is the magic an inheritance or can it be learned?
If I wasn't given this arc it would of been a dnf for me. I think the atmosphere is great and the synopsis has great potential but it didn't gell well for me while reading it.
Lets start with the positives the setting was great! It is the perfect Gothic fantasy atmosphere that makes it feel eerie and has you turning your head around every corner. I wanted to know more about the capital and where Will we from.
Unfortunately everything else fell flat for me. I was really intrigued with the characters but when intimate scenes got involved whether it was with the FMC or MMC or Will's God it distracted from the plot a bit and all i wanted to do was go back to the actual mission Will was on. I would of liked to see the other character's povs I think it would of helped with the progression of the story. The power system and magic frustrated me I was so confused on how people became powerful and Will's powers until it was revealed 70% through the book and to me a reader should not be confused about the power system in a book. Also who is able to use magic? Still confused on that one. Like can the people in the capital use blood magic if allowed? Is the magic an inheritance or can it be learned?
If I wasn't given this arc it would of been a dnf for me. I think the atmosphere is great and the synopsis has great potential but it didn't gell well for me while reading it.
August 30, 2026
Thanks so much Elisabeth Mark for the free ARC (my third ever arc yay!!)
From page one, I was already super intrigued by the concept and the worldbuilding, from the city to the vampires to the magic system and the romance (omg the 🌶️ scenes 🤩). I loved the characters more and more as I read, especially the interplay of their secrets, motivations and all the interactions that resulted from this. Also, I love a good MMF so that was right up my alley 🤩
I became a bit skeptical around the middle, as more of the gods and all the powers at play was revealed, but everything came together so interestingly in the end!! I didn’t even know it was going to be part of a series, so I was like 👁️👄👁️ when it said „continue reading in book 2“ at the end, but oml I’m already way too excited to see where this story goes. Mostly because I want to see more of Will‘s magic 🤩 and how our MCs will work together after that messed up ending lol 💀
5/5 ⭐️ no notes 🖋️ (consider me tf seated for book two!!)
From page one, I was already super intrigued by the concept and the worldbuilding, from the city to the vampires to the magic system and the romance (omg the 🌶️ scenes 🤩). I loved the characters more and more as I read, especially the interplay of their secrets, motivations and all the interactions that resulted from this. Also, I love a good MMF so that was right up my alley 🤩
I became a bit skeptical around the middle, as more of the gods and all the powers at play was revealed, but everything came together so interestingly in the end!! I didn’t even know it was going to be part of a series, so I was like 👁️👄👁️ when it said „continue reading in book 2“ at the end, but oml I’m already way too excited to see where this story goes. Mostly because I want to see more of Will‘s magic 🤩 and how our MCs will work together after that messed up ending lol 💀
5/5 ⭐️ no notes 🖋️ (consider me tf seated for book two!!)
August 26, 2026
I received this book as an ARC from the author.
I could not put this book down. I cursed every second I had to put it down. Bloodgrove, the characters, the atmosphere all were so captivating and enthralling! The grotesque and horrific dancing in perfect tandem with beauty and magic.
I will be waiting impatiently for the sequel to come out!
I could not put this book down. I cursed every second I had to put it down. Bloodgrove, the characters, the atmosphere all were so captivating and enthralling! The grotesque and horrific dancing in perfect tandem with beauty and magic.
I will be waiting impatiently for the sequel to come out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had ti fight the urge to pull an all nighter and finish this book in one sitting🖤 I was obsessed from the first paragraph
The story is very unique and enchanting, and the plot shines more than the spicy scenes, that made me yearn alongside the characters. 10/10 would recommend to friends and also would purchase more from this author in the future🥰 can’t wait for book 2
The story is very unique and enchanting, and the plot shines more than the spicy scenes, that made me yearn alongside the characters. 10/10 would recommend to friends and also would purchase more from this author in the future🥰 can’t wait for book 2
September 13, 2026
1,25/5
DNF at 65%.
I just couldn’t do it. While the book started out pretty decently and sounded like something I’ll enjoy, it all went downhill very fast. For one, I despised Elodie to the very depths of my soul. She has zero redeeming qualities, she is way too overpowered, and she is just plain annoying. There are absolutely no indications as to why Will is so taken with her, and because of that, I just could not bring myself to care. He’s an absolute fool that repeatedly allows himself to be used only to whine about it later, and I cannot sympathise with that.
The magic system is not explained in any way. Can anyone master magic with the use of blood? If yes, why the hell is Will presented as someone special? Just because of his hair? Then why don’t we know anything about it other than “it is said people with white hair are powerful mages”? If not, why are we not told anything about the way it chooses those who wield it? The author is too preoccupied with telling us about how Will’s god makes sexual advances towards him to spend time describing the actual lore.
Speaking of sex scenes, I found them mostly gross, with words like “flaps”, “nectar” and “seed” used at a regular basis. I never got to the MMF part (the main reason I even requested the ARC), but I don’t think I’ve lost too much. UPDATE: As I've been informed, this book features no such thing, despite every single marketing/promotional post listing "MMF and Why Choose" as one of the topes. Knocking 0,25 off the original 1,5 rating due to deliberate misinformation on the author's part.
The plot feels very disjointed, and it needs a full-on event (one if the countless balls, a vampire hunt, an attack or whatever else) for something to happen, and because of that it gives off the feeling that time moves in jumps rather than gradually. Relationships are often built in the quiet, everyday moments, and the novel lacks that severely.
It was also never mentioned that it’s not a standalone but the first part in a series, which I'm pretty sure you can't do.
Thank you to the author for sending me a free copy of this book ahead of publication. I really wish I liked this more.
DNF at 65%.
I just couldn’t do it. While the book started out pretty decently and sounded like something I’ll enjoy, it all went downhill very fast. For one, I despised Elodie to the very depths of my soul. She has zero redeeming qualities, she is way too overpowered, and she is just plain annoying. There are absolutely no indications as to why Will is so taken with her, and because of that, I just could not bring myself to care. He’s an absolute fool that repeatedly allows himself to be used only to whine about it later, and I cannot sympathise with that.
The magic system is not explained in any way. Can anyone master magic with the use of blood? If yes, why the hell is Will presented as someone special? Just because of his hair? Then why don’t we know anything about it other than “it is said people with white hair are powerful mages”? If not, why are we not told anything about the way it chooses those who wield it? The author is too preoccupied with telling us about how Will’s god makes sexual advances towards him to spend time describing the actual lore.
Speaking of sex scenes, I found them mostly gross, with words like “flaps”, “nectar” and “seed” used at a regular basis. I never got to the MMF part (the main reason I even requested the ARC), but I don’t think I’ve lost too much. UPDATE: As I've been informed, this book features no such thing, despite every single marketing/promotional post listing "MMF and Why Choose" as one of the topes. Knocking 0,25 off the original 1,5 rating due to deliberate misinformation on the author's part.
The plot feels very disjointed, and it needs a full-on event (one if the countless balls, a vampire hunt, an attack or whatever else) for something to happen, and because of that it gives off the feeling that time moves in jumps rather than gradually. Relationships are often built in the quiet, everyday moments, and the novel lacks that severely.
It was also never mentioned that it’s not a standalone but the first part in a series, which I'm pretty sure you can't do.
Thank you to the author for sending me a free copy of this book ahead of publication. I really wish I liked this more.
September 28, 2026
3.5 stars rounded down
I was not expecting a lot from this book; to be fair, a LOT of dark fantasy romances are mostly romance with a thin veneer of plot on top, but that was not what I got here. Then why the low rating, you ask, well, a couple reasons. First, if you're going to include plot and political machinations and actual worldbuilding, you need to spend time on those things in order for the reader to be in step with the story. I felt like it took a while for the book to hit its stride, and part of that was the way backstory / context information was given-- there are few things more frustrating than feeling like you don't understand the meaning of scenes and interactions because you don't have the context. Some things were explained very clearly, others (like Will's second heartbeat and its source) were barely hinted at. What vampires are in this world was unclear for way longer than it should've been; I spent maybe the first third of the book thinking Elodie was a vampire, then another chunk extremely confused as to why anyone would be drinking blood if they weren't a vampire, because the way blood magic works wasn't explained either.
Second, the romances were solid but still would've benefited from more time spent-- or at least, that's how I felt for most of the book, not knowing I was starting a series instead of reading a standalone. I wanted more Will and Eric interactions, I didn't feel as bought into their side of the triangle until maybe 3/4 through, and I wanted more time spent on Will being attracted to a woman for the first time. (I feel like having thought you were gay for 26 years, finding yourself obsessed with a woman would be more of a crisis than it was portrayed to be here, lol.) But I loved Eric and Elodie's scenes-- that was one of the best parts of the book, their tension and sabotage and the ultimate reveal of his plans and her rage at always being overlooked. Once I got to the end and realized there was going to be a sequel, I could maybe re-evaluate my feelings on the pace, but it definitely falls into the category of, critiquing because I liked what was there a lot, I just wanted more of it.
As for things I thought were great without reservation, first and foremost, the writing! The descriptions were gorgeous, the different plot threads (gods, vampires, the culture of the two cities, blood magic, romance) were braided together very evenly, the bits with the Red Hand were excellent gross horror, and the final scene-- well basically everything from the wedding onward was a relentless bloodbath that culminated in everything being turned on its head. A+ for that, and that cliffhanger?! I am hooked and will absolutely be tuning in for book 2.
Also if you plan to read, do not ignore the body horror tag here-- there is a lot of gore, a LOT of descriptions of people being killed in very gruesome ways, far beyond what I would expect from just a regular vampire story. The abuse tag is all for past events referenced, not current or described in any detail on-page.
I was not expecting a lot from this book; to be fair, a LOT of dark fantasy romances are mostly romance with a thin veneer of plot on top, but that was not what I got here. Then why the low rating, you ask, well, a couple reasons. First, if you're going to include plot and political machinations and actual worldbuilding, you need to spend time on those things in order for the reader to be in step with the story. I felt like it took a while for the book to hit its stride, and part of that was the way backstory / context information was given-- there are few things more frustrating than feeling like you don't understand the meaning of scenes and interactions because you don't have the context. Some things were explained very clearly, others (like Will's second heartbeat and its source) were barely hinted at. What vampires are in this world was unclear for way longer than it should've been; I spent maybe the first third of the book thinking Elodie was a vampire, then another chunk extremely confused as to why anyone would be drinking blood if they weren't a vampire, because the way blood magic works wasn't explained either.
Second, the romances were solid but still would've benefited from more time spent-- or at least, that's how I felt for most of the book, not knowing I was starting a series instead of reading a standalone. I wanted more Will and Eric interactions, I didn't feel as bought into their side of the triangle until maybe 3/4 through, and I wanted more time spent on Will being attracted to a woman for the first time. (I feel like having thought you were gay for 26 years, finding yourself obsessed with a woman would be more of a crisis than it was portrayed to be here, lol.) But I loved Eric and Elodie's scenes-- that was one of the best parts of the book, their tension and sabotage and the ultimate reveal of his plans and her rage at always being overlooked. Once I got to the end and realized there was going to be a sequel, I could maybe re-evaluate my feelings on the pace, but it definitely falls into the category of, critiquing because I liked what was there a lot, I just wanted more of it.
As for things I thought were great without reservation, first and foremost, the writing! The descriptions were gorgeous, the different plot threads (gods, vampires, the culture of the two cities, blood magic, romance) were braided together very evenly, the bits with the Red Hand were excellent gross horror, and the final scene-- well basically everything from the wedding onward was a relentless bloodbath that culminated in everything being turned on its head. A+ for that, and that cliffhanger?! I am hooked and will absolutely be tuning in for book 2.
Also if you plan to read, do not ignore the body horror tag here-- there is a lot of gore, a LOT of descriptions of people being killed in very gruesome ways, far beyond what I would expect from just a regular vampire story. The abuse tag is all for past events referenced, not current or described in any detail on-page.
August 31, 2026
Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I first heard of “Bloodgrove” from the author herself on her Instagram account. That was when I took an interest for this novel, since Elisabeth G. Mark is doing an amazing job in promoting her work as a self-published author.
“Bloodgrove” is a gothic romantasy, set in a gruesome and unsettling world where vampires, mages, angels, gods (etc etc) coexist. The city where the plot unfolds – Bloodgrove itself – almost seems like a creature of her own: she is greedy, violent and dark, and all the characters who move in her streets are equally twisted and vile. I think the author did a good job in depicting the general atmosphere and vibes of her story. She has a way of crafting elaborate images – mostly disturbing ones – and putting them into your mind. To me, those are fundamental abilities for those who seek to write a gothic novel, and I probably would have liked this one better if it had focused on this narrative line.
However, I feel like “Bloodgrove”’s potential wasn’t fully developed and that’s why, at the end, I was kinda disappointed in how all turned out to be.
One of the biggest flaws I found is how fast paced the story is. There are so many events that chase one another continuously, without letting each scene truly “breathe”. This kind of mechanism reflected itself on how I perceived some revelations that were made, which lost their importance and relevance due to the lack of right space.
The same goes for the characters and their dynamic. Although Will remains to me a fascinating mystery, I couldn’t connect with his story. I wish I could read more about his job as an interior designer, since it is something I haven’t found often in other fantasy books. Mostly, I wish I could feel more of him. There very so many interesting points about Will that could have given him more depth, if properly explored (for example, his bond with Albatross, magic, and the sea, or his sudden love for both Elodie and Eric).
Speaking of which… Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with Elodie and Eric either. I wanted to like them so, so much! They are both intriguing characters, who are not afraid to use whatever – and whoever – they have at their disposal to reach their goal. Maybe that’s why they make such good rivals and Will is so tempted by them. Unfortunately, they felt to me like true side characters, no matter how strong, attractive, intelligent they were described to me.
The 🌶️ level was pretty high and intense. I enjoyed how erotic and sensual some scenes, dialogues and gestures were – yet I have to mention that I wasn’t expecting the appearance of THAT thing, iykyk.
Summing up, even though I still wish that “Bloodgrove” could give me something more, I still enjoyed reading it – at the point where I read it all in one day. I would totally recommend it to those who liked “Mistress Of Lies”, by K. M. Enright.
Also, cheers to Elizabeth and her hard work on the translation. She did really good.
I first heard of “Bloodgrove” from the author herself on her Instagram account. That was when I took an interest for this novel, since Elisabeth G. Mark is doing an amazing job in promoting her work as a self-published author.
“Bloodgrove” is a gothic romantasy, set in a gruesome and unsettling world where vampires, mages, angels, gods (etc etc) coexist. The city where the plot unfolds – Bloodgrove itself – almost seems like a creature of her own: she is greedy, violent and dark, and all the characters who move in her streets are equally twisted and vile. I think the author did a good job in depicting the general atmosphere and vibes of her story. She has a way of crafting elaborate images – mostly disturbing ones – and putting them into your mind. To me, those are fundamental abilities for those who seek to write a gothic novel, and I probably would have liked this one better if it had focused on this narrative line.
However, I feel like “Bloodgrove”’s potential wasn’t fully developed and that’s why, at the end, I was kinda disappointed in how all turned out to be.
One of the biggest flaws I found is how fast paced the story is. There are so many events that chase one another continuously, without letting each scene truly “breathe”. This kind of mechanism reflected itself on how I perceived some revelations that were made, which lost their importance and relevance due to the lack of right space.
The same goes for the characters and their dynamic. Although Will remains to me a fascinating mystery, I couldn’t connect with his story. I wish I could read more about his job as an interior designer, since it is something I haven’t found often in other fantasy books. Mostly, I wish I could feel more of him. There very so many interesting points about Will that could have given him more depth, if properly explored (for example, his bond with Albatross, magic, and the sea, or his sudden love for both Elodie and Eric).
Speaking of which… Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with Elodie and Eric either. I wanted to like them so, so much! They are both intriguing characters, who are not afraid to use whatever – and whoever – they have at their disposal to reach their goal. Maybe that’s why they make such good rivals and Will is so tempted by them. Unfortunately, they felt to me like true side characters, no matter how strong, attractive, intelligent they were described to me.
The 🌶️ level was pretty high and intense. I enjoyed how erotic and sensual some scenes, dialogues and gestures were – yet I have to mention that I wasn’t expecting the appearance of THAT thing, iykyk.
Summing up, even though I still wish that “Bloodgrove” could give me something more, I still enjoyed reading it – at the point where I read it all in one day. I would totally recommend it to those who liked “Mistress Of Lies”, by K. M. Enright.
Also, cheers to Elizabeth and her hard work on the translation. She did really good.
Read
October 21, 2026RTC. This was like a gothic fever dream.🖤 Gory, sexy, and atmospheric. Plus I felt like I was getting to live my Alucard, Trevor and Sypha throuple dreams out vicariously through this story. I will pay a blood toll for book 2!
August 19, 2026
An immense thank you to the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I give this 4.5 stars! Once I started this I could not put it down. Bloodgrove is incredibly atmospheric, gory and sexy.
Will, Elodie and Eric are such interesting characters that truly getting to know them and unravel all their storylines was such a fun journey. I love the darkness of the vampires and the featuring of blood mages and a few gods made the story intriguing without feeling overwhelming. It had just enough going on to keep you enthralled. I will ABSOLUTELY be picking up book 2!
If you’re into the macabre, gory and sultry side of vampirism and blood magic, then this is absolutely for you… especially if you loved Penny Dreadful.
I give this 4.5 stars! Once I started this I could not put it down. Bloodgrove is incredibly atmospheric, gory and sexy.
Will, Elodie and Eric are such interesting characters that truly getting to know them and unravel all their storylines was such a fun journey. I love the darkness of the vampires and the featuring of blood mages and a few gods made the story intriguing without feeling overwhelming. It had just enough going on to keep you enthralled. I will ABSOLUTELY be picking up book 2!
If you’re into the macabre, gory and sultry side of vampirism and blood magic, then this is absolutely for you… especially if you loved Penny Dreadful.
September 29, 2026
Initially, I thought this was another great find among indie authors… until I noticed Elisabeth G. Mark had also written Epilogue of Kings! I felt thoroughly tricked. No wonder I was enjoying all of them so much!
Elisabeth writes as if we are about to start an RPG campaign, and I am all for it. The gore, the universe, the dynamics of the characters. This book is very much October-encoded. Gothic vampiristic, with a tiny bit of romantic tension.
About Will, it's been a while since I came across a male character who is this soft. This highlights the lore of the creative man with morals and ambitions, showing a different kind of strength that is still recognized for its advantages. Quite refreshing to the eye, if I'm being honest.
About Elodie, let's just say the girl has an ambition like no other.
About Eric, protect him at all costs! He exceeded my expectations at every turn.
About Saint, I'm devastated that we will not see him anymore. He was such a joyful balance to the sober atmosphere.
Overall, I'm very excited for the next book, and I hope we will understand more about the monsters of Bloodgrove and the secrets of the capital.
Elisabeth writes as if we are about to start an RPG campaign, and I am all for it. The gore, the universe, the dynamics of the characters. This book is very much October-encoded. Gothic vampiristic, with a tiny bit of romantic tension.
About Will, it's been a while since I came across a male character who is this soft. This highlights the lore of the creative man with morals and ambitions, showing a different kind of strength that is still recognized for its advantages. Quite refreshing to the eye, if I'm being honest.
About Elodie, let's just say the girl has an ambition like no other.
About Eric, protect him at all costs! He exceeded my expectations at every turn.
About Saint, I'm devastated that we will not see him anymore. He was such a joyful balance to the sober atmosphere.
Overall, I'm very excited for the next book, and I hope we will understand more about the monsters of Bloodgrove and the secrets of the capital.
August 8, 2026
4.5⭐️
thank you to the author for the eARC and i will be sending you a strongly worded email.
where do i begin:
(read TWs)
this was a hauntingly beautiful universe filled with blood, lust, gore and mystery but in spite of that i was hooked and kept on coming back for more. learning about the different gods and the lore of the lands UGH. bear with me im still finding the words.
the characters: i loved them all. will, eloide and eric, you all have my heart and if you’re ever looking for a fourth, it’s never gonna be me because i bruise easily but a girl can dream.
seeing will find a place with them as the glue (even if he’s not ready to admit it) was heartwarming. eric slowly letting his guard down even though his words are still wrapped in thorns and eloide allowing herself to accept that someone is on her side. i love them your honor.
gnawing at the iron bars waiting for book 2, so if elisabeth wants to leave her laptop on her porch, just let me know.
thank you to the author for the eARC and i will be sending you a strongly worded email.
where do i begin:
(read TWs)
this was a hauntingly beautiful universe filled with blood, lust, gore and mystery but in spite of that i was hooked and kept on coming back for more. learning about the different gods and the lore of the lands UGH. bear with me im still finding the words.
the characters: i loved them all. will, eloide and eric, you all have my heart and if you’re ever looking for a fourth, it’s never gonna be me because i bruise easily but a girl can dream.
seeing will find a place with them as the glue (even if he’s not ready to admit it) was heartwarming. eric slowly letting his guard down even though his words are still wrapped in thorns and eloide allowing herself to accept that someone is on her side. i love them your honor.
gnawing at the iron bars waiting for book 2, so if elisabeth wants to leave her laptop on her porch, just let me know.
September 12, 2026
I came for the vampires and stayed for the deliciously unhinged relationship between Will, Elodie, and Eric. 4.5 ⭐️ for this gothic fever dream. I was both horrified and thoroughly entertained from start to finish. This was my first time reading a book by this author and it's awoken something in me. I need more of this ASAP. Especially after the ending! I don't think I can wait until 2027.
The magic was so intriguing and I loved that we found out information alongside Will. It made it easier to digest the information and keep note of interesting pieces of history about the town. I may as well have been his assistant throughout the full book. I was that invested in his journey and reasons for visiting Bloodgrove alone. The contrast between Will and the residents of Bloodgrove really stood out. His almost angelic appearance and naivety really spoke volumes to the differences between the Capitol and Bloodgrove and left me wanting to know more about how they ended up at such odds.
The creatures, the politics, the blood magic, their way of life, and everything else in-between just fed on my curiosity and had me in such a trance that I didn't want to leave. Add in the tension and the romantic aspects and I was hooked. Their relationship is unorthodox to say the least, but their dynamic was unmatched. This wasn't necessarily a slow burn, but the author knew what she was doing teasing us the way she did throughout the book. I am desperate for book 2! it all came together at the end and left us on such a great cliffhanger.
If you are looking for a drak gothic fantasy filled with magic, vampires, gods, and a why choose romance, then you need to pick up this book!
A huge thank you to the author for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
The magic was so intriguing and I loved that we found out information alongside Will. It made it easier to digest the information and keep note of interesting pieces of history about the town. I may as well have been his assistant throughout the full book. I was that invested in his journey and reasons for visiting Bloodgrove alone. The contrast between Will and the residents of Bloodgrove really stood out. His almost angelic appearance and naivety really spoke volumes to the differences between the Capitol and Bloodgrove and left me wanting to know more about how they ended up at such odds.
The creatures, the politics, the blood magic, their way of life, and everything else in-between just fed on my curiosity and had me in such a trance that I didn't want to leave. Add in the tension and the romantic aspects and I was hooked. Their relationship is unorthodox to say the least, but their dynamic was unmatched. This wasn't necessarily a slow burn, but the author knew what she was doing teasing us the way she did throughout the book. I am desperate for book 2! it all came together at the end and left us on such a great cliffhanger.
If you are looking for a drak gothic fantasy filled with magic, vampires, gods, and a why choose romance, then you need to pick up this book!
A huge thank you to the author for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
August 20, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
*Advanced Reader copy from the author*
This book was absolutely wild!!! Most of the time i was like “what is happening right now” Its a complete fever dream
And i LOVED IT
Its Gothic, Its Gory, Its Grotesque,
The way Elisabeth writes is absolutely delicious, every description I visualised perfectly, The gore, The moonlight, The beast 😏
My boy Will coming to Bloodgrove to be an interior designer only to be met with blood magic, rivalry, gods, angels, vampires , a sexual awakening he never knew he needed! It was insane. At first he wanted to runaway back home then in the end.. he wanted to save his friends and bloodgrove
I would like to have seen more of his interior design, but other than that I am absolutely bereft that I now have to wait till next year for book two!!!
I do hope in the next book we learn more about the gods and the Angels
*Advanced Reader copy from the author*
This book was absolutely wild!!! Most of the time i was like “what is happening right now” Its a complete fever dream
And i LOVED IT
Its Gothic, Its Gory, Its Grotesque,
The way Elisabeth writes is absolutely delicious, every description I visualised perfectly, The gore, The moonlight, The beast 😏
My boy Will coming to Bloodgrove to be an interior designer only to be met with blood magic, rivalry, gods, angels, vampires , a sexual awakening he never knew he needed! It was insane. At first he wanted to runaway back home then in the end.. he wanted to save his friends and bloodgrove
I would like to have seen more of his interior design, but other than that I am absolutely bereft that I now have to wait till next year for book two!!!
I do hope in the next book we learn more about the gods and the Angels
August 17, 2026
‿̩͙⊱༒︎༻♱༺༒︎⊰‿̩͙“𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝖆𝖗𝖊 𝖒𝖞 𝖘𝖊𝖑𝖋𝖎𝖘𝖍 𝖜𝖎𝖘𝖍” ‿̩͙⊱༒︎༻♱༺༒︎⊰‿̩͙
4.25 ★
4.25 ★
Don’t let the slow start fool you…one minute you’re trying to figure out what the hell is going on, and—BAM— all of a sudden you’ve been caught in Bloodgrove’s seduction and are obsessed. There is just something about it that just pulls you in…like drugs...or vampire venom…or bloodlust, oh my! Bloodgrove was a completely unexpected, wonderful experience! It is atmospheric, gory, the scenery and characters are hauntingly beautiful, and I cannot emphasize enough its charming peculiarity. Perfect for the spooky season to cuddle up with a red glass of wine in front of a warm hearth. I NEED a physical copy of this with all the gorgeous art!
I’ve come to terms that I am not a “weird anything literature" type of person, but Bloodgrove made me realize that the one exception is weird gothic romance. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would and that is because it ventured a little out of my usual tropes and genres. I’m certainly more of a plot reader than vibe reader, but Bloodgrove is so good in what it is that it completely just swept me away in its energy. It’s definitely a reading experience where you just have to go with the flow rather than try to analyze and pull everything apart at first glance. I think that knowing that Bloodgrove falls more towards a fever dream gory nonsense world at times would help readers enjoy it more. I’m loving the plot, it’s mysterious and seemingly disjointed and random, but trust, it all comes together in the end. ⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺
‿̩͙⊱༒︎༻♱༺༒︎⊰‿̩͙
‿̩͙⊱༒︎༻♱༺༒︎⊰‿̩͙
Favorite Quotes:
“Will sighed again. Resignation was the last refuge left to him, and sighing had long since replaced his laughter.”
“Why is every tradesperson who comes in here trembling?”
“I remind them whose house they are entering.”
“In here, I am the most dangerous thing you are likely to find.” she smiled innocently.
“We have hated each other since childhood. We will fight until one of us is in the grave, and even then, the other will try to build a larger mausoleum.”
“Nightmares were always a kind of assault the mind inflicted on itself.”
“You have a good soul.”
“My dear Duchess…if only you could hear my thoughts.”
“Can I not be sorry and still do what is necessary?”
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
October 6, 2026
★★★★★★
6 stars. No questions asked!
Bloodgrove is the gothic dark fantasy that I'm going to be thinking about all October!
If you want one read to kick off spooky season, this is it. I finished it and sat in silence for a good while, because this book did not just entertain me, it moved in and rearranged the intimate parts of my soul.
Bloodgrove is a cursed city where the buildings look like every cathedral in the world was hurled at a hillside, the streets lock up at sunset, and everything runs on blood. Magic costs blood, tickets cost blood, power costs blood. The world has one rule (nothing is free) and the author never lets you forget it. The worldbuilding never once feels like homework, because you learn the rules by watching the characters bleed for them. The atmosphere is immaculate. If you love gothic horror but also crave gorgeous clothes, candlelit ballrooms, and dramatic entrances, consider this your invitation.
I was so happy that the entire book stays in Will's head. He's an interior designer, easily the most delightfully unexpected job for a dark fantasy lead, and it actually matters to the story. He sees rooms as feelings. He's also not your typical "chosen one". He's vain, ambitious, a little bit of a people-pleaser, and running from a scandal, and the book makes you feel exactly what his ambition costs him. His arc is about finally owning the power he's terrified of instead of being swept along by it. He's a soft, sharp, complicated boy, and I would follow him anywhere.
Elodie is my morally gray queen. She's theatrical, strategic, funny, and cruel when she needs to be. She plays society like a chessboard and wears a gown like a weapon. She manipulates, she uses people, and she hurts the ones she cares about. But her reasons come from some of the darkest backstory I've read in a long time, so you end up understanding her without ever excusing her. I spent half the book wanting to hug her and the other half wanting to throw a shoe at her, which is exactly what a morally gray FMC should do to you.
Will and Elodie orbit each other, wound each other, and keep coming back for more giving me the most delicious chaotic romance ever. Then there's Eric Arcos: cold, immaculate, wolf-headed cane, and thoroughly infuriating at first. His slow, aching, finally-gives-in dynamic with Will made me scream into a pillow. Will's bi awakening is gorgeous too, because the book lets him be surprised by what he wants and never turns it into a spectacle.
The themes are what really stayed with me. This book is uncomfortable and exciting, and it's meant to be both. Trauma shapes these characters in ways that feel painfully real, and the scariest creatures are often the ones in the nicest clothes, while some of the so-called monsters are the most human people on the page. And beneath all that blood, there's a found-family heart that snuck up on me when I wasn't looking!
10/10, six stars, and I would happily sacrifice a toe to read it again. I need book 2 yesterday!
6 stars. No questions asked!
Bloodgrove is the gothic dark fantasy that I'm going to be thinking about all October!
If you want one read to kick off spooky season, this is it. I finished it and sat in silence for a good while, because this book did not just entertain me, it moved in and rearranged the intimate parts of my soul.
Bloodgrove is a cursed city where the buildings look like every cathedral in the world was hurled at a hillside, the streets lock up at sunset, and everything runs on blood. Magic costs blood, tickets cost blood, power costs blood. The world has one rule (nothing is free) and the author never lets you forget it. The worldbuilding never once feels like homework, because you learn the rules by watching the characters bleed for them. The atmosphere is immaculate. If you love gothic horror but also crave gorgeous clothes, candlelit ballrooms, and dramatic entrances, consider this your invitation.
I was so happy that the entire book stays in Will's head. He's an interior designer, easily the most delightfully unexpected job for a dark fantasy lead, and it actually matters to the story. He sees rooms as feelings. He's also not your typical "chosen one". He's vain, ambitious, a little bit of a people-pleaser, and running from a scandal, and the book makes you feel exactly what his ambition costs him. His arc is about finally owning the power he's terrified of instead of being swept along by it. He's a soft, sharp, complicated boy, and I would follow him anywhere.
Elodie is my morally gray queen. She's theatrical, strategic, funny, and cruel when she needs to be. She plays society like a chessboard and wears a gown like a weapon. She manipulates, she uses people, and she hurts the ones she cares about. But her reasons come from some of the darkest backstory I've read in a long time, so you end up understanding her without ever excusing her. I spent half the book wanting to hug her and the other half wanting to throw a shoe at her, which is exactly what a morally gray FMC should do to you.
Will and Elodie orbit each other, wound each other, and keep coming back for more giving me the most delicious chaotic romance ever. Then there's Eric Arcos: cold, immaculate, wolf-headed cane, and thoroughly infuriating at first. His slow, aching, finally-gives-in dynamic with Will made me scream into a pillow. Will's bi awakening is gorgeous too, because the book lets him be surprised by what he wants and never turns it into a spectacle.
The themes are what really stayed with me. This book is uncomfortable and exciting, and it's meant to be both. Trauma shapes these characters in ways that feel painfully real, and the scariest creatures are often the ones in the nicest clothes, while some of the so-called monsters are the most human people on the page. And beneath all that blood, there's a found-family heart that snuck up on me when I wasn't looking!
10/10, six stars, and I would happily sacrifice a toe to read it again. I need book 2 yesterday!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2026
I received a free arc in exchange for an honest review!
I have some mixed feelings regarding Bloodgrove, but first; there's going to be a second book?!?! What a pleasant surprise!
The story was fun, engaging, and humorous at times. I enjoyed the gothic city of Bloodgrove, how it was painted in sharp contrast, always, to the Capitol and for Will to stand out as a way to show that difference without venturing into the Capitol. It flowed rather well from one instance to the next, keeping the reader hooked until the end. I always enjoy a good twist on classics, and the vampires in this story are just that, a wonderfully dark twist. Plus the magic system requiring blood or other bodily sacrifices, I quite enjoyed the gritty nature of it!
What makes this a three star book for me is the writing itself. I think the best moments of prose, of a slower pace, were during the handful of sex scenes. We slowed down, we delved into movements and emotions, we stretched how things were worded, altering the narrative a bit. I understand why, but I would have liked to see the same level of "care" put into the rest of the narrative because it was quick, short, yes, flowery in the prose, but still a little boring for me. I was never drawn fully into the world or writing. There were also chapters and scenes that read disjointedly, more toward the end, as if rushed. When the angel is freed, it feels like we skim over the rest of the chapter, and it left me feeling a little "Huh? We aren't going to linger on the angel a little longer?" At the end, Will is arrested. The way it's written makes it feel as though very little time has passed and that Will hadn't gotten very far, which makes that gap between his being arrested to his returning feel far too exaggerated and clunky, especially when that led to what the book had been building to. The way the gods spoke took away from the final scene as well; it took away from the gods' presence, intensity, and other beingness.
I think the Red King was grotesque and horrid in the best way, all the creatures were, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading how Will, a nonresident of Bloodgrove, described what he was not used to.
I hark on the writing itself because writing it what conveys the story. No matter how good the story itself is, if the writing isn't up to par, it affects how the story is perceived. The alternative is also true. No matter how good one's writing may be, if the story isn't there, the whole experience is less. No matter my nitpicking tendencies, this was a delectable book to indulge in, and I recommend to those looking for a saucy triangle romance, politics entangling the mc, and blood, lots of blood.
Thank you for allowing the opportunity to read Bloodgrove!
I have some mixed feelings regarding Bloodgrove, but first; there's going to be a second book?!?! What a pleasant surprise!
The story was fun, engaging, and humorous at times. I enjoyed the gothic city of Bloodgrove, how it was painted in sharp contrast, always, to the Capitol and for Will to stand out as a way to show that difference without venturing into the Capitol. It flowed rather well from one instance to the next, keeping the reader hooked until the end. I always enjoy a good twist on classics, and the vampires in this story are just that, a wonderfully dark twist. Plus the magic system requiring blood or other bodily sacrifices, I quite enjoyed the gritty nature of it!
What makes this a three star book for me is the writing itself. I think the best moments of prose, of a slower pace, were during the handful of sex scenes. We slowed down, we delved into movements and emotions, we stretched how things were worded, altering the narrative a bit. I understand why, but I would have liked to see the same level of "care" put into the rest of the narrative because it was quick, short, yes, flowery in the prose, but still a little boring for me. I was never drawn fully into the world or writing. There were also chapters and scenes that read disjointedly, more toward the end, as if rushed. When the angel is freed, it feels like we skim over the rest of the chapter, and it left me feeling a little "Huh? We aren't going to linger on the angel a little longer?" At the end, Will is arrested. The way it's written makes it feel as though very little time has passed and that Will hadn't gotten very far, which makes that gap between his being arrested to his returning feel far too exaggerated and clunky, especially when that led to what the book had been building to. The way the gods spoke took away from the final scene as well; it took away from the gods' presence, intensity, and other beingness.
I think the Red King was grotesque and horrid in the best way, all the creatures were, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading how Will, a nonresident of Bloodgrove, described what he was not used to.
I hark on the writing itself because writing it what conveys the story. No matter how good the story itself is, if the writing isn't up to par, it affects how the story is perceived. The alternative is also true. No matter how good one's writing may be, if the story isn't there, the whole experience is less. No matter my nitpicking tendencies, this was a delectable book to indulge in, and I recommend to those looking for a saucy triangle romance, politics entangling the mc, and blood, lots of blood.
Thank you for allowing the opportunity to read Bloodgrove!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🌊"I will give you what you want. For now, my beautiful one. Because I love it when you call my name."🩸
Thank you so much to the author for letting me read this early. This was my first ever ARC and so it'll always be special to me!❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
~Gothic, Victorian Atmosphere
~Why Choose
~Bisexual Awakening
~Monsters, Vampires, Gods
~Cursed City
~Unique Magic System
~Feminine Rage
~Revenge
Will Frank is an interior designer who's reputation is at stake after a little incident. He's invited to the cursed city of Bloodgrove by Duchess Elodie Ormonde, to redesign her ballroom with a time limit. What he soon finds out is that there are bigger stakes at hand involving monsters, gods, vampires, and forbidden magic acts. Throw in the dashingly handsome and dangerous Ambassador Eric Arcos and Will has far more than he signed up for.
This is beautifully written, the gothic atmosphere mists off the pages and the vivid descriptions are darkly delicious. The pov is from our mmc Will, and it's entirely refreshing and unique. Full of morally grey—and worse—characters, the levels of scheming, betrayal, and revenge is neverending and kept me on the edge of my seat. The horror aspect was utterly phenomenal! While some authors are afraid to cross a certain threshold, here there are no hold backs. I loved every second of it; from the body horror to the violence to the psychological effects.
The magic system is all about sacrifice, doesn't matter what type they are using, and it's very interesting and heartbreaking at times. Although it's fun when magic has no consequence, it definitely makes the stakes a lot higher when there's a price to pay!
Lastly, I'd like to address the romance/spice aspect. This is a Why Choose MMF/bisexual awakening, including monster spice and knotting. Being bisexual myself there isn't a whole lot of proper representation for people like me in fantasy. Most of the time it's just mentioned or briefly touched upon. NOT HERE! It's absolutely perfect from the portrayals to the emotions to the experiences. I really adored how the author wrote this and made it important to our characters and the story.
I love Will, Elodie, and Eric and can't wait to see where their story continues! But first the rest of the world needs to experience this wonderful book❤️
Thank you so much to the author for letting me read this early. This was my first ever ARC and so it'll always be special to me!❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
~Gothic, Victorian Atmosphere
~Why Choose
~Bisexual Awakening
~Monsters, Vampires, Gods
~Cursed City
~Unique Magic System
~Feminine Rage
~Revenge
Will Frank is an interior designer who's reputation is at stake after a little incident. He's invited to the cursed city of Bloodgrove by Duchess Elodie Ormonde, to redesign her ballroom with a time limit. What he soon finds out is that there are bigger stakes at hand involving monsters, gods, vampires, and forbidden magic acts. Throw in the dashingly handsome and dangerous Ambassador Eric Arcos and Will has far more than he signed up for.
This is beautifully written, the gothic atmosphere mists off the pages and the vivid descriptions are darkly delicious. The pov is from our mmc Will, and it's entirely refreshing and unique. Full of morally grey—and worse—characters, the levels of scheming, betrayal, and revenge is neverending and kept me on the edge of my seat. The horror aspect was utterly phenomenal! While some authors are afraid to cross a certain threshold, here there are no hold backs. I loved every second of it; from the body horror to the violence to the psychological effects.
The magic system is all about sacrifice, doesn't matter what type they are using, and it's very interesting and heartbreaking at times. Although it's fun when magic has no consequence, it definitely makes the stakes a lot higher when there's a price to pay!
Lastly, I'd like to address the romance/spice aspect. This is a Why Choose MMF/bisexual awakening, including monster spice and knotting. Being bisexual myself there isn't a whole lot of proper representation for people like me in fantasy. Most of the time it's just mentioned or briefly touched upon. NOT HERE! It's absolutely perfect from the portrayals to the emotions to the experiences. I really adored how the author wrote this and made it important to our characters and the story.
I love Will, Elodie, and Eric and can't wait to see where their story continues! But first the rest of the world needs to experience this wonderful book❤️
September 10, 2026
ARC Review.
Bloodgrove is a gothic romantasy with blood magic, vampires, and a cursed,mysterious city.
The setting is stunning. The gothic descriptions immersed me in Bloodgrove, a city that's basically out of Castlevania. Dark, dangerous, with a strong Victorian-ish influence in its culture.
The magic system is also another forte of the book. I absolutely love blood magic, and it was, to my surprise, well thought of in relation to vampires. I expected a city of vampires, not mages: here vampires are more ghouls/zombie like, they have little to no control of their actions and are blinded by the need of blood.
I unfortunately had a few problems plotwise, some with the characters, and in particular with some scenes that happened.
I knew what I was getting myself into when I accepted the ARC, I did read the tags, but I imagined those situations a tad bit differently. While I enjoyed the majority of the book, those scenes really took me out of it, some even weirded me out a bit too.
I had to think for a while about the overall rating of the book. The world building and the magic system were a 10/10, and I enjoyed the majority of the book, so a 3 star is somewhat reasonable with my highs and lows reading it. I’m not sure if I’ll pick up the second book because I’m sure that more will be explored on the and I think that maybe it’s just not for me.
TW: blood, violence, torture, mutilation, self-harm, death, sexual acts, sexual abuse, rape (not of the main character), unclear consent, monster sex, cannibalism, body horror, slavery.
— nyx ♡
Bloodgrove is a gothic romantasy with blood magic, vampires, and a cursed,mysterious city.
The setting is stunning. The gothic descriptions immersed me in Bloodgrove, a city that's basically out of Castlevania. Dark, dangerous, with a strong Victorian-ish influence in its culture.
The magic system is also another forte of the book. I absolutely love blood magic, and it was, to my surprise, well thought of in relation to vampires. I expected a city of vampires, not mages: here vampires are more ghouls/zombie like, they have little to no control of their actions and are blinded by the need of blood.
I unfortunately had a few problems plotwise, some with the characters, and in particular with some scenes that happened.
I knew what I was getting myself into when I accepted the ARC, I did read the tags, but I imagined those situations a tad bit differently. While I enjoyed the majority of the book, those scenes really took me out of it, some even weirded me out a bit too.
I had to think for a while about the overall rating of the book. The world building and the magic system were a 10/10, and I enjoyed the majority of the book, so a 3 star is somewhat reasonable with my highs and lows reading it. I’m not sure if I’ll pick up the second book because I’m sure that more will be explored on the and I think that maybe it’s just not for me.
TW: blood, violence, torture, mutilation, self-harm, death, sexual acts, sexual abuse, rape (not of the main character), unclear consent, monster sex, cannibalism, body horror, slavery.
— nyx ♡
October 11, 2026
thank you so much to the author for an early copy! all opinions are my own!
idk how to rate this 😱
for one part, it took a while to finally understand what was going on in the story. i loved how the author planted several clues for us to follow and still had no idea what was happening 😂 but the world and the characters are the best. it truly read like the city was alive with the need of blood and the secrets holding it. it's a book where everyone is fighting for their lives and you can't draw a distinguished line with was is good and what is bad: everything is grey and only power matters. i would recommend people taking close attention to the trigger warnings because i was shocked at reading them; at least they didn't happen to the MC but reading them makes me hate society so much because these things can get even worse in a place like this.
i adored the fact that the love triangle is just a fight of who loves more to sacrifice the other, and how far they would get to protect them because they can't say the words, but prefer to use actions. it is also a bit spicier than i thought and there is a scene that kinda resembles a... monster??? i was left open mouthed, for real. but i couldn't stop reading, i needed to know how they were going to save the other and get what they wanted the most. they were such flawed characters, with lots of masks to hide their true self, and i loved that so much.
now i need book two like yesterday, i was so shocked reading that ending!!! and this book needs more love: if you love gore, complex magic systems, a why choose romance and a city that seemes alive with evil, you haaave to read it!!!
idk how to rate this 😱
for one part, it took a while to finally understand what was going on in the story. i loved how the author planted several clues for us to follow and still had no idea what was happening 😂 but the world and the characters are the best. it truly read like the city was alive with the need of blood and the secrets holding it. it's a book where everyone is fighting for their lives and you can't draw a distinguished line with was is good and what is bad: everything is grey and only power matters. i would recommend people taking close attention to the trigger warnings because i was shocked at reading them; at least they didn't happen to the MC but reading them makes me hate society so much because these things can get even worse in a place like this.
i adored the fact that the love triangle is just a fight of who loves more to sacrifice the other, and how far they would get to protect them because they can't say the words, but prefer to use actions. it is also a bit spicier than i thought and there is a scene that kinda resembles a... monster??? i was left open mouthed, for real. but i couldn't stop reading, i needed to know how they were going to save the other and get what they wanted the most. they were such flawed characters, with lots of masks to hide their true self, and i loved that so much.
now i need book two like yesterday, i was so shocked reading that ending!!! and this book needs more love: if you love gore, complex magic systems, a why choose romance and a city that seemes alive with evil, you haaave to read it!!!
August 22, 2026
Thank you so much to Elisabeth G. Mark for access to this advanced reader’s copy of Bloodgrove! This is my honest and unbiased review.
**—**—**
Elodie looked up with a lazy smile. “Money is not the price.”
“Then what is?” Will suspected the answer.
“Blood.” She said it lightly, as though it were not the most bizarre word to pass her lips. “Every last drop—or until you lose your mind.”
**—**—**
What price would you pay for magic? For power? For freedom?
Will, an interior designer disgraced for using magic, finds himself in the monster-infested city of Bloodgrove after being banished from the illustrious Capitol. Hired to rebuild the ballroom of a notorious blood mage, Will quickly finds himself wrapped up in a much larger plot to free the city of Bloodgrove from its vampiric curse. As the nights grow colder, Will becomes the object of infatuation for a brined god, his plotting benefactor, a mysterious warrior, and the evil king himself.
Bloodgrove is the epitome of a dark gothic romance: bloody, unsettling, and rich with horror. But it is also surprisingly soft with Will’s gentle nature guiding the narrative. I found the characters remarkably lovable and loved how they acted as foils for one another. Headstrong Elodie, taciturn Eric, and gentle Will make such a unique love triangle that I CANNOT wait for book two. I am still recovering from Saint, but I will nurse my wounds while I wait.
The plot of this story is truly a whirlwind. It’s unique compared to other dark fantasies. I couldn’t put the book down for fear of what awaited the characters on the next page. There is a significant amount of world building in the book, which did sometimes make huge events feel trivial in the eyes of the characters. Instead of being shocked by a literally rip in reality, it was approached by a more of a “Oh of course this would happen.” Although by that point in the book, I probably wouldn’t have been surprised if I was Will, either. He truly was put through the wringer, poor guy.
Bloodgrove is absolutely a book you should look into if you love the darker side of romance, especially related to vampirism, primal love, and monsters. There is quite a bit of gore and body horror in some places, so be aware of your triggers before you start. Otherwise, Bloodgrove is a grotesquely good time! Can’t wait for the series to continue!
**—**—**
**—**—**
Elodie looked up with a lazy smile. “Money is not the price.”
“Then what is?” Will suspected the answer.
“Blood.” She said it lightly, as though it were not the most bizarre word to pass her lips. “Every last drop—or until you lose your mind.”
**—**—**
What price would you pay for magic? For power? For freedom?
Will, an interior designer disgraced for using magic, finds himself in the monster-infested city of Bloodgrove after being banished from the illustrious Capitol. Hired to rebuild the ballroom of a notorious blood mage, Will quickly finds himself wrapped up in a much larger plot to free the city of Bloodgrove from its vampiric curse. As the nights grow colder, Will becomes the object of infatuation for a brined god, his plotting benefactor, a mysterious warrior, and the evil king himself.
Bloodgrove is the epitome of a dark gothic romance: bloody, unsettling, and rich with horror. But it is also surprisingly soft with Will’s gentle nature guiding the narrative. I found the characters remarkably lovable and loved how they acted as foils for one another. Headstrong Elodie, taciturn Eric, and gentle Will make such a unique love triangle that I CANNOT wait for book two. I am still recovering from Saint, but I will nurse my wounds while I wait.
The plot of this story is truly a whirlwind. It’s unique compared to other dark fantasies. I couldn’t put the book down for fear of what awaited the characters on the next page. There is a significant amount of world building in the book, which did sometimes make huge events feel trivial in the eyes of the characters. Instead of being shocked by a literally rip in reality, it was approached by a more of a “Oh of course this would happen.” Although by that point in the book, I probably wouldn’t have been surprised if I was Will, either. He truly was put through the wringer, poor guy.
Bloodgrove is absolutely a book you should look into if you love the darker side of romance, especially related to vampirism, primal love, and monsters. There is quite a bit of gore and body horror in some places, so be aware of your triggers before you start. Otherwise, Bloodgrove is a grotesquely good time! Can’t wait for the series to continue!
**—**—**
October 28, 2026
Dat was een dark gothisch horror romantasy met een uniek soort relatie tussen Will, Elodie en Eric. Meteen vanaf de start was ik al horrified maar ook gebiologeerd en gefascineerd en laten we zeggen dat alle emoties zijn gepasseerd.
Toen ik de flaptekst las werd ik aangetrokken door de why choose, MMF, vampires en dark gothic setting. In combinatie met de kaft had ik een bepaald soort romantische verwachting, maar dit boek was like een fever dream ik kan het niet anders omschrijven.
De wereld die gebouwd is, de politiek, de magie, de inwoners van de stad en zelfs de geschiedenis van Bloodgrave. De auteur heeft zo veel aandacht aan alle details gegeven - en nee je krijgt niet meteen bij de start alle antwoorden. Gedurende het verhaal worden dingen duidelijk en gezien er ook een tweede deel komt zijn er nog steeds vragen onbeantwoord.
Het contrast tussen Will en Elodie + Eric is zo ongelofelijk groot en dan de onorthodoxe relatie die ontstaat. Waanzinnig, ik kan het niet anders omschrijven. Ik was zo gefascineerd en geschokt maar ik bleef lezen. De MMF en why choose is ook niet op de klassieke manier uitgeschreven overigens - ik las commentaar daar op namelijk. Dus lees dit boek niet als je geëntertaind wilt worden door een trio in bed want dat vind je hier niet.
Bloodgrave is in alle opzichten een uniek boek, het is niet de standaard roman, het bevat niet de standaard MMF kenmerken… het is beter, het is smerig, het is mindfucked. I loved it, intense.
Nu wachten op deel 2. 🖤
Toen ik de flaptekst las werd ik aangetrokken door de why choose, MMF, vampires en dark gothic setting. In combinatie met de kaft had ik een bepaald soort romantische verwachting, maar dit boek was like een fever dream ik kan het niet anders omschrijven.
De wereld die gebouwd is, de politiek, de magie, de inwoners van de stad en zelfs de geschiedenis van Bloodgrave. De auteur heeft zo veel aandacht aan alle details gegeven - en nee je krijgt niet meteen bij de start alle antwoorden. Gedurende het verhaal worden dingen duidelijk en gezien er ook een tweede deel komt zijn er nog steeds vragen onbeantwoord.
Het contrast tussen Will en Elodie + Eric is zo ongelofelijk groot en dan de onorthodoxe relatie die ontstaat. Waanzinnig, ik kan het niet anders omschrijven. Ik was zo gefascineerd en geschokt maar ik bleef lezen. De MMF en why choose is ook niet op de klassieke manier uitgeschreven overigens - ik las commentaar daar op namelijk. Dus lees dit boek niet als je geëntertaind wilt worden door een trio in bed want dat vind je hier niet.
Bloodgrave is in alle opzichten een uniek boek, het is niet de standaard roman, het bevat niet de standaard MMF kenmerken… het is beter, het is smerig, het is mindfucked. I loved it, intense.
Nu wachten op deel 2. 🖤
September 2, 2026
Bloodgrove is a spooky masterpiece - a gothic fever dream that will leave you equally terrified and h*rny. We've got horror, monsters, cunning Victorian flirtation, blood magic, deceptive gods, and so much more. There are so many cool elements in this book, masterfully combined by Elisabeth G. Mark to create something fresh, unique and darkly memorable.
I read mere *pages* of the ARC and had to immediately order it, the vibes are that good. I can totally see Elisabeth becoming a big name within the gothic sub-genre.
Bloodgrove follows William Frank, a disgraced interior designer traveling to the mysterious city-state of Bloodgrove to take on a commission that he hopes will restore him in high society. He soon finds himself in the middle of a political battle between Duchess Elodie Ormonde (his sponsor), and Ambassador Eric Arcos.
As the feud between Elodie and Eric reveal more of Bloodgrove's terrifying, supernatural secrets to Will, he learns what his own magic means to him, and the sacrifices he would pay in order to protect his two paramours from the horrors of their cursed town.
🖤 MMF
🖤 Monster sm/ex
🖤 Blood magic
🖤 Gothic, Victorian setting
🖤 Female rage & revenge
🖤 Vampires, gods, and more
🖤 Everyone is morally f*cked, and we love it
‼️ Check your TWs. This is not a flowery lil gothic romance. Although a gorgeous novel, it gets dark and gruesome. Take care of your mental health 🖤
Thank you so much to Elisabeth for allowing me the opportunity to ARC read this!
I read mere *pages* of the ARC and had to immediately order it, the vibes are that good. I can totally see Elisabeth becoming a big name within the gothic sub-genre.
Bloodgrove follows William Frank, a disgraced interior designer traveling to the mysterious city-state of Bloodgrove to take on a commission that he hopes will restore him in high society. He soon finds himself in the middle of a political battle between Duchess Elodie Ormonde (his sponsor), and Ambassador Eric Arcos.
As the feud between Elodie and Eric reveal more of Bloodgrove's terrifying, supernatural secrets to Will, he learns what his own magic means to him, and the sacrifices he would pay in order to protect his two paramours from the horrors of their cursed town.
🖤 MMF
🖤 Monster sm/ex
🖤 Blood magic
🖤 Gothic, Victorian setting
🖤 Female rage & revenge
🖤 Vampires, gods, and more
🖤 Everyone is morally f*cked, and we love it
‼️ Check your TWs. This is not a flowery lil gothic romance. Although a gorgeous novel, it gets dark and gruesome. Take care of your mental health 🖤
Thank you so much to Elisabeth for allowing me the opportunity to ARC read this!
September 5, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Will Frank is an interior designer who gets invited to Bloodgrove by our Duchess Elodie to help redesign her ballroom. But theres a lot of secrets at Bloodgrove and he’s an outsider with a reputation he’s trying to mend.
The atmosphere is great, it’s eerie,
gothic and mystical. There’s monsters, horror elements and the scenes were beautifully detailed. I loved the lore with the vampires and the blood magic.
I loved that we got a refreshing POV from Will. It’s a love triangle and a bi awakening which I really enjoyed reading from his perspective. The love triangle was definitely intriguing and left a lot of room for drama. The monster was also a nice surprise 👀
Where it fell flat for me was that it felt like the scenes just weren’t flowing that well into each other, it feel disconnected and it was making it difficult for me to get into and to stay engaged. I found myself rereading a bit and I just felt like something was missing or information wasn’t given properly. I did actually soft dnf at 50% then gave it another go later on and I will say they later half of the book felt better but I was still having the same issues.
I really wish I loved this more because the atmosphere was everything I love. I was also in a bit of a slump so I may give this another go when the sequel comes out!
Will Frank is an interior designer who gets invited to Bloodgrove by our Duchess Elodie to help redesign her ballroom. But theres a lot of secrets at Bloodgrove and he’s an outsider with a reputation he’s trying to mend.
The atmosphere is great, it’s eerie,
gothic and mystical. There’s monsters, horror elements and the scenes were beautifully detailed. I loved the lore with the vampires and the blood magic.
I loved that we got a refreshing POV from Will. It’s a love triangle and a bi awakening which I really enjoyed reading from his perspective. The love triangle was definitely intriguing and left a lot of room for drama. The monster was also a nice surprise 👀
Where it fell flat for me was that it felt like the scenes just weren’t flowing that well into each other, it feel disconnected and it was making it difficult for me to get into and to stay engaged. I found myself rereading a bit and I just felt like something was missing or information wasn’t given properly. I did actually soft dnf at 50% then gave it another go later on and I will say they later half of the book felt better but I was still having the same issues.
I really wish I loved this more because the atmosphere was everything I love. I was also in a bit of a slump so I may give this another go when the sequel comes out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
3 stars
bloodgrove the book and the place is spooky, errie and gritty - like a gothic fever dream thats the best way to describe it.
i was instantly drawn into this strange, dark world filled with vampires, gore, monsters and more, the characters are so intriguing, complex and all have there own intentions with this high society vibe.
at first i wasn’t sure on will, he just seemed very bland, but he definitely isn’t and he definitely isn’t to be underestimated…ngl i was shocked at how filthy his mouth was…🥵. eloide, was my favourite character she’s conniving, confident but also has the innocence about her that makes her very intriguing. eric, he definitely is the most complex out of the three, you doubt yourself about whether to trust him, i adored the relationship between him and will, if anything i want more.
my only reason why this isn’t a 4 star read is because I would have loved for some more explanation to the world, the magic system and gods. sometimes i was a little confused but also it did add to the mystery of it all.
will deffo be reading book two.
also this book is solely in a male pov, which made for a very unique reading experience.
thank you so much elisabeth g mark for the e-arc
🩸victorian gothic setting
🩸vampires & gods
🩸male pov
🩸forbidden/blood magic
🩸female rage
🩸monster smut/knotting
bloodgrove the book and the place is spooky, errie and gritty - like a gothic fever dream thats the best way to describe it.
i was instantly drawn into this strange, dark world filled with vampires, gore, monsters and more, the characters are so intriguing, complex and all have there own intentions with this high society vibe.
at first i wasn’t sure on will, he just seemed very bland, but he definitely isn’t and he definitely isn’t to be underestimated…ngl i was shocked at how filthy his mouth was…🥵. eloide, was my favourite character she’s conniving, confident but also has the innocence about her that makes her very intriguing. eric, he definitely is the most complex out of the three, you doubt yourself about whether to trust him, i adored the relationship between him and will, if anything i want more.
my only reason why this isn’t a 4 star read is because I would have loved for some more explanation to the world, the magic system and gods. sometimes i was a little confused but also it did add to the mystery of it all.
will deffo be reading book two.
also this book is solely in a male pov, which made for a very unique reading experience.
thank you so much elisabeth g mark for the e-arc
🩸victorian gothic setting
🩸vampires & gods
🩸male pov
🩸forbidden/blood magic
🩸female rage
🩸monster smut/knotting
September 22, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you so much to Elizabeth G. Mark for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC! 💕 I really enjoyed my time reading it!
I loved, loved, loved the vibes of this book. The world it was set in was amazing, and I really enjoyed getting to know each of the characters. There was such a great atmosphere throughout the story that kept me invested.
Also, the artwork for this book is gorgeous! I loved it so much that I ended up buying both the paperback and hardcover copies because I just had to have them. 😍📚
One thing I did struggle with was some of the descriptive language. At times, I found it difficult to visualise what was happening or fully understand what was going on, especially during some of the more important parts of the story. This happened throughout the book, and there were quite a few moments where I had to reread paragraphs a couple of times before everything clicked. Because of this, some scenes took me a little longer to understand and fully appreciate.
I also found myself feeling like the main plot was more centred around the two love interests, with the main character acting almost as a witness to their story for much of the book. It felt like he only became truly important to the main plot towards the end, which was a little disappointing as I would have loved to see him more directly involved throughout.
That being said, the last chapter was SO good and set things up really well for the next book. I’m definitely intrigued by where the story is going and will be picking up the next book!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, especially the world, characters and atmosphere, and I’m excited to continue the series! 💕
Thank you so much to Elizabeth G. Mark for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC! 💕 I really enjoyed my time reading it!
I loved, loved, loved the vibes of this book. The world it was set in was amazing, and I really enjoyed getting to know each of the characters. There was such a great atmosphere throughout the story that kept me invested.
Also, the artwork for this book is gorgeous! I loved it so much that I ended up buying both the paperback and hardcover copies because I just had to have them. 😍📚
One thing I did struggle with was some of the descriptive language. At times, I found it difficult to visualise what was happening or fully understand what was going on, especially during some of the more important parts of the story. This happened throughout the book, and there were quite a few moments where I had to reread paragraphs a couple of times before everything clicked. Because of this, some scenes took me a little longer to understand and fully appreciate.
I also found myself feeling like the main plot was more centred around the two love interests, with the main character acting almost as a witness to their story for much of the book. It felt like he only became truly important to the main plot towards the end, which was a little disappointing as I would have loved to see him more directly involved throughout.
That being said, the last chapter was SO good and set things up really well for the next book. I’m definitely intrigued by where the story is going and will be picking up the next book!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, especially the world, characters and atmosphere, and I’m excited to continue the series! 💕
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