Ruled by Blood

The Darker Woods #1-2

by May Sage, Alexi Blake

Once upon a time, there was a princess with no notion of right and wrong, and a queen a thousand times more twisted.

In the realm of Tenebris, home to the unseelie folk, curses are served for breakfast with a side of betrayal.

Vlari was born a threat to Queen Morgana. She survived her wrath because she never stepped out of line.

Until one night. One man. One war.

Now that she's unchained, Vlari's consumed by a desire to drain the lives of all those around her. And yet her decisions shape the fate of the entire realm of the fae.

Sometimes the world needs a hero. In a land of shadows, it might just need a monster.

Ruled by Blood is a tale of magic, secrets, and schemes, perfect for fantasy readers who enjoy a dash of romance.

This version combines both parts: Wicked Court and Shadow Cursed.

Genres: Fantasy, Fae, Fantasy Romance, Fairies, Young Adult

416 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2020

About the author

May Sage is a USA Today Bestselling romance writer dabbling in different genres.

When she isn’t writing, she spends her time with her German Shepherd and her two Savannahs. She loves reading, ballet, running, and cake. Mostly, cake.

May Sage also writes longer fantasy romance novels as Alexi Blake.

Reviews

[Sophie's Reading Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love a slow burn enemies to lovers, faeries and other magical creatures, a kick-ass heroine, a tall, dark and handsome hero, then add this book on your TBR!! This book is being released tomorrow 😻 Thank you @maysageauthor and @bookofmatchesmedia for my ARC copy 💜💜

Vlari is a Princess, but she's also hidden in plain sight. Her grandmother has bound her powers and her whole life she's trying to stay low, she doesn't show her true powers , even though she can't control herself during sleep and her nightmares put her often in trouble. She's gathering favors from different people because she knows she's gonna need them at some point. Now a war erupts and many things are going to be tested...

At the same time we have Drusk and I don't want to say much, but there's slow burn, there's chemistry and it's just 🥵🥵🥵 I personally haven't read many adult fantasies , so this was nice for a change 😉 It was an awesome book, the plot was very intriguing and kept me on my toes since the first chapter, the characters are also well developed and I'm glad my month is ending on a bang!

[Dr. Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Book of Matches Media and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The realm of Tenebris is ruled by a monstrous queen and Vlari is a threat to her rule. One of the most powerful unseelie fae to be born, Vlari is forced to hide her powers from everyone or face the Queen's wrath. But when destruction comes for Tenebris, Vlari might be the only person who can save them all.

If you like bloodthirsty and morally grey fae, then this book is for you. Vlari seems like the typical do-gooder heroine for the first bit of this, but as soon as she's thrust into a leadership role, she is ready to do whatever it takes for her home. Ruled by Blood is split into two parts: Wicked Court & Shadow Cursed. Wicked Court is mainly told from Vlari's perspective and Shadow Cursed is a dual POV between Vlari and Drusk. The one thing that threw me off was the fact that ten years pass between these two parts. Which was wild.

I really enjoyed how conniving and twisted these fae were. They were in touch with the animalistic side of their nature in a way that's not sexy and not always brought to the forefront in fae books. The relationship that developed between Drusk and Vlari was really well developed. It was such a slow burn and I appreciated seeing them get to know each other before they acted on their lust. Also they were just so cute!

The magic system and world building in this was awesome. I loved learning about all the various fae powers and seeing the conflict between fae, humans and gods. Overall, would definitely recommend this and I'm curious to see what the other books Sage has written are like.

[Mikayla · Rating 1 out of 5]

TBR Jar #2

🌶️/ 5
⭐️⭐️/ 5

I was kinda disappointed about this read. It sounded really good and like other books I really enjoy. Unfortunately, this one seemed to be rather lacking. I feel like the plot was really flat and had some weird pacing to it.

I expected the second half of the book to have a lot more going on but there was not meat to it. We are in the middle of a war but it feels more like something happening off screen than being in the middle of it. It dragged on without anything happening until all the sudden they won 🙃 Then the final chapter/epilogue was really weird in the fact that our couple never talked about the fact she bargained off their third kid whenever they are born.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars

The world building was definitely there in this book. And it started off with some action, but the first 100 pages just felt like I was speeding through the book. I felt like I was listening to an audio at 2x speed and missing bits. So it was a bit confusing and I felt like some of it could have been more developed. The back and forth in the timeline was also a bit jarring.

I did enjoy the world and the magic involved in it. It took me a long time to connect with the characters though, but once I did I definitely enjoyed them.

I loved reading about the different types of fae and the magic.

[Angele | adominiquereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Love is the sharpest of weapons, and each of its wounds can be fatal."

I received an eARC of this book bind up from the author in exchange for an honest review. Release date is scheduled on October 1, 2020

Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars

Fans of Holly Black's The Cruel Prince and Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses will definitely love this new fae addition to their reading repertoire! It has the perfect elements of the very vast fae world, cruel yet lovable and quirky characters, deadly wars, mysterious magic systems at play, steamy romance, and all of it is wrapped up in nicely packaged novel.

At first, it was hard to get into the story because of all the info dumping that was happening during the first few chapters. A lot of things were getting introduced already, which can totally confuse a reader, but eventually, things were starting to get clearer and the story was beginning to be enjoyable. The world building is definitely topnotch, and you could immerse yourself immediately into the fae world once you get the hang of it. The author wrote her world vividly, and it was complimented greatly by her characters. I was not a huge fan of Vlari from the start, but as the story progressed, I understood her better, and admired her perseverance and strength, and the magic she has was also very intriguing. Drusk, on the other hand, was the typical fae male warrior that reminded me of many characters, but his relationship with Vlari from when they first met to recent were my favorite highlights.

I also liked the fact that while this book was sold was a romance fantasy novel, romance was never the main driving force. It acted more as a secondary plot that just enhanced the story even better. I also enjoyed how this book had a lot of court politics and war mechanics that I absolutely love seeing in any fantasy novel. Oh! And the plot twists! The plot twists were definitely very unexpected for me in both books! It was just a slap in the face when I read them because I never expected them at all in the first place.

My only issue with the book was that while the plot was engaging, I found some parts were a bit rushed. I could have wished for more focused battle scenes and conversations. But over-all, the author did a pretty good job in entertaining me from start to finish.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves The Cruel Prince and ACOTAR.

[Anabella (anabellasbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

English review


First of all, I need to thank to May Sage and BOOM for giving me this book for reading and giving an honest review

Since I read the synopsis of this I was deeply interesting of read this one, and for all the good this didn't disappoint me.

Actually, this book is a duology bound, which is full of emotions. This one is about of curses, betrayals, magic, and fantasy with a little romance background story.

If you really enjoy of fat stories, this is one for you


Reseña en Español


En primer lugar, debo agradecer a May Sage y BOOM por darme este libro para leer y dar una reseña honesta

Desde que leí la sinopsis de esto, me interesó mucho leer este, y por lo bueno esto no me decepcionó.

En realidad, este libro está encuadernado en duología, que está lleno de emociones. Se trata de maldiciones, traiciones, magia y fantasía con una pequeña historia de romance.

Si realmente disfrutas de las historias de seres faéricos, esta es para ti.

[Ali McTavish · Rating 4 out of 5]

received an eARC of this book for a bookstagram tour in exchange for an honest review!

I am giving ruled by blood a solid 4 stars. It has been awhile since I’ve read a book about the fae and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I enjoyed our main Character Vlari a lot. I loved seeing her come into her own and into her powers. I love a morally grey character and she was definitely that! I also thought her powers were super unique and fun to read about.

I also dealt enjoyed Drusk. I liked that while still totally brutal, he was at many times the softer of the two of them. I also thought his powers were super cool.

The world building was great, and the plot moved along quickly which I liked.

It was steamy at parts, full of magic and battles and really there was never a dull moment.

I totally recommend it!

[Christine Manzari]

This is a duology bound into one beautiful book which includes Wicked Court and Shadow Cursed. This hardback edition has a stunning map and lovely artwork inside. I've almost finished the first part of the book (Wicked Court) and am intrigued about the different courts mentioned. I'm still getting to know the characters and the world of the fae of this book.

[Bookish Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an exciting read! I love how it tells the story from different POV's. And that it's not just about fae, but includes a ton of other fae like creatures. Sprites, pixies, goblins, etc. I really enjoyed the whole world portrayed in this book.

Vlari is technically the Princess, but her jealous grandmother bound her powers at birth so as not to be overshadowed by her granddaughter. Now Vlari only exists to stay invisible and stay away from the High Queens court.

Drusk is a Myst, possibly the only one in existence. He finds Vlari to be fascinating even though she wants nothing to do with him. He weasels his way into a bargain and finds himself taking her to Samhain in the High Queens court. And then... all hell breaks loose.

The kingdom is suddenly at war with mortals and immortal gods. Vlari makes a huge sacrifice to protect her people and ruins Drusk in the process. Will it be worth it in the end?

[Charde Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soo good!!

Whew!! This was a rollercoaster ride. I laughed and cried and cheered during this book. Great world building, character development, and of course the angst!! Lots of surprises! All the things that high fantasy needs!! ❤️❤️🔥🔥

[Ash]

DNF after finishing the first book in this duology (it was a 2 star read for me). I looked at a couple reviews for book 2 and know I won’t enjoy it, so I’m cutting my losses.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars I enjoyed this even though I struggled to get into it in the beginning. I think I prefer The Cursed Crown but I’m looking forward to reading more of May Sage’s work!

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 / 5 stars

***Thank you so much to the author and Book of Matches Media for inviting me to participate on an ARC tour for this one. I received an ARC to read in exchange for my honest review of the book. That SPOILER FREE review is below.***

If you're looking for an exciting, action-packed adventure full of somewhat vicious fae and the intricate bonds between them, then this book is for you. It was so fun to be back in the world of the fae with this book. I think the last time I was that immersed was when I read The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black. I will say, at times, there were so many different kinds of creatures and place names to keep track of, that I felt a little overwhelmed. But I just kept trucking along, and eventually things clicked and fell into place. It was fun to meet all these characters, none of whom are perfect, but all of whom are intriguing and easy to cheer for.

This was originally two books in a duology, but it has been bound together into one book now, and I have to say, I really liked that. The books flow one into the other, and it feels like one solid read. Also, the cover is SO PRETTY! I know that has nothing to do with how the book is, but I couldn't NOT mention it. :) I thought the main character, Vlari, was really interesting. She is part Fae and part Pixie, and during the course of the book, we learn more about her mysterious power and her royal relationships. I won't say more to avoid spoilers.

My one complaint about the story is that the pace was actually a little too quick for me. That is to say, I think action is prioritized over character development, but that meant I didn't always fully understand character motivations or what they were thinking, which meant it felt a little black-and-white/rushed at times. But I believe this is a personal preference thing, and others might like it to be quick like this. The plot definitely moves, and I love all the detail about the variety of fae creatures. Also, there is definitely some romance, and I was there for it. Romance always makes a fae book better, am I right? :)

So yes, if you like the world of the fae and fast-paced, action-packed plots, then this book is for you! I look forward to reading more from May Sage.

[lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

First this was a really fun read. Just some parts weren't for me.

So, this story is in first person and is a two volume book in one. It has multiple pov but I won't say more due to spoilers. We start off getting to know the fmc Vlari she's a princess of the realm, a hated one at that by the queen morgana. She possesses power not seen in centuries and so she is a rival to the powers that be. Being part pixie too, there's a lot of racism between the species. But I thought it was really interesting from the "fae" pov for once, as we usually see a lot of books of fae realms from the human view. Vlari is a bad ass, smart and a born leader. She's unseelie through and through, which for those who don't know about far. Unseelies are far colder and beautifully cruel, more so than the seelie courts usually.

Drusk is the mysterious, dark, tall, handsome, powerful mmc. They were somewhat enemies to lovers in this book. But not really I'd say they just had a distaste for each other at the start, for maybe not knowing the other as well as they thought. I thought drusk was an interesting character, but I feel we didn't really get to know him. There was spice in the last half of this book, but I skipped through it because I only really like reading the spice if there's been a build up of tension, an unravelling of their love and I didn't really get that. It felt rushed and with no tension at all. It felt like they disliked eachother for reasons that seemed quite petty, then immediately they respect eachother and are mated. It felt rushed and a bit lazy writing really. I felt this for other characters too, which were introduced but then forgotten about.

The world-building was there for these books. Definitely. It was interesting understanding the courts, and getting to know the unseelie and seelie courts. Lots of tactics were spoken of with the different courts which was cool to read. And was fun understanding the different species that exist.

Plot wise, it is very action packed. But felt like sometimes a lot was thrown in, that could be skippable as was resolved either too early or too fast. Sometimes it became really confusing, to read everything that was happening. Too much going on constantly. It needed a bit more writing to unravel plot points, and character arcs. There are more books so it is really a duology. But I don't think I'm going to read any others.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruled by Blood is a bind up of both books in the young adult/new adult fantasy called the Noblesse Oblige Duet, by May Sage. I don't know about you, but I love a bind up of a duet, trilogy or series. I love being able to read the books back to back, and bind ups make that so easy. I read Ruled by Blood as if it were one long book, and I loved the way the story flowed from book one to book two, even though there is a time jump between the books. May Sage did a great job explaining the jump and getting readers right back into the story. Ruled by Blood is a  fae romance where the main character Vlari finds herself stuck between the queen, fae court and her own agenda.I really enjoyed this duet and I couldn't believe how many twists and turns there were throughout the story. It certainly kept things interesting. Overall, this was a solidly good fae centered fantasy that will keep readers entertained and on the edge of their seats!

In Ruled by Blood we meet our main character Vlari. Vlari is a mixed breed- part fae and part pixie. Overtime we learn more about Vlari. She is the granddaughter of the ruling fae queen, and when Vlari was young the royal court discovered that she has a powerful ancient magic inside of her, a gift from her very powerful ancestor. The queen binds Vlari telling the world that it is because Vlari is dangerous, but in reality it is because she doesn't want her to be more powerful than she is. I will admit that there are a lot of players and moving parts to the world that May Sage created, and at the start of the book I was a bit confused as I gained my bearings in the story. It took me a little bit of time before I understood the layout of the world and how all of the different courts and kingdoms of the world worked together. But once I figured that out, the rest of the book flowed quickly for me.

I found Vlari's power to be fascinating. I'll put it in a spoiler box so I won't ruin it for you, but it felt original and different and equal parts terrifying and awesome! She calls her power a void power. She can essentially suck power (and life) from anyone or anything she wants and then refocus that new power and energy in different ways. Her power seems almost limitless and the possibilities of what she can do with it seem endless. She can use the power to halt death, bring people to life grow things, kill things, bind things. It's intense! The romance in the story is also great. The end of the first book and the whole second book took me completely by surprise. I was coasting along nicely in the story when the initial war and fight broke out of no where and took the story in a totally different direction than I was expecting. I loved it! At times, I found the story a little rushed, and I was hoping that things would slow down and we could flesh out some scenes more and some character motivations more but overall I had so much fun while reading Ruled by Blood. I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more from May Sage in the future!

See more of my reviews at Book Briefs. Love bookish pictures? Let's be friends on Bookstagram

[Bo0kSLoth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was previous released as two separate books as part of a duet. It's now available as one book.

It's the story of a half-breed fae princess, Vlari, that is forced to live a half-life of trying to be invisible and stay in the shadows, while never using her powers or who knows how her grandmother, the Queen, will take her anger out if Vlari fails.

Vlari spends her life dancing to the Queen's tune, knowing that her life and the lives of her family were in the Queen's hands while at the same time also knowing she was powerless to change anything

Drusk was the popular boy from school that used to tease her. Vlari could always sense the strength, the power, the danger in him, so she tried to keep clear but he still called to her. Things come to ahead when he is sent home from the warfront after being wounded.

Secrets, intrigue, betrayal, lies, sacrifices - everything soon changes for Vlari as she learns that she has a greater power than even she knew when she comes face-to-face with an enemy that is set to take her land and wipe out not only people but all of her family. She will have to learn to rely on Drusk and turn to other allies if they are too make it through and regain what was lost.

It's a little bit of romance with plenty of adventure. There are times when Vlari's selfishness with not sharing a certain secret with Drusk really upset me, where she put her feelings for him after everything else, but as the book keeps saying. . . She is unseelie and ruthless and considered love a weakness, so don't think this is a love story and sweet. There's is heartache and pain in this book. People die and suffer. It's the wicked court after all.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Harvey (Candlelightreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Ruled by Blood’ is a beautifully bound duology including Mary Sages’ - ‘The Wicked Court’ and sequel ‘Shadow Cursed’. This book is suitable for young adult to adult readers who enjoy a mixture of high fantasy with swords and sorcery.

This book is set in the realm of Tenebris, one kingdom in a world of divided courts. Tenebris is ruled by a heinous Queen, who is descended from a line of powerful unseelie fae. As any monstrous ruler those who dwell in her realm keep to the shadows and try to remain unnoticed. Unfortunately, for our main protagonist Vlari, a blood relative to the crown this is relatively difficult. Vlari is an exceptionally powerful fae, who must repress her magic or face the wrath of the Queen.
Yet, when war comes knocking close to home, Vlari becomes everyone’s last hope.

Vlari certainly appeared to be a strong character; independent, resourceful and loyal to those closest to her. As the story progressed it was clear to see the characters development especially when discovering the extent of her powers. Our secondary character Drusk, is a rather mysterious young man who returns from the front line after being injured. When their paths cross, a connection sparks and the embers of a slow burn romance brims its way to the surface. This author is not shy on the details of other fae embracing their animalistic traits, trust me!

The world building and magic system was well developed and written. Although not much is discussed of the other courts, I hope that Mary Sage will explore this more in any sequels. I don’t want to dive to much more into the magic system as I feel this may spoil the book but it’s definitely intriguing and different!

I rated this book 4/5 stars

[Lauren Schnoebelen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Vlari has always tried to live unnoticed just to make her life easier with the queen. Her power is something that hasn’t been seen in generations and if it were to get out, it could ruin any peace the realm has. When she’s forced to attend an event as her coming out moment in society, everything changes, and she no longer has to hide.

Man, it has been a really long time since I’ve been completely on board with a couple. The tension between Vlari and Drusk is absolutely incredible, and their unique powers make it so they would both end the world if something happened to the other person. Plus, the banter between them was perfection. I loved that the fae in this world stuck to their seelie and unseelie backgrounds because it just heightened the tension between the two of them with their need for blood, vengeance, and chaos. I honestly couldn’t get enough especially with the ending to the first part and the switch in perspective in the story. Seeing everything from Drusk’s view was so well done and really allowed you to understand his motives.

As for the plot, I appreciated all the twists and turns. I never expected some of the actions to take place and it really threw me for a loop. The reason for Drusk returning really set the stage for the amount of power involved and the ending was definitely a surprise for me. The incorporation of bargains and future favors was a fun addition that really played into fae lore and provided for some really unique story moments with Vlari and Drusk working with other characters to protect the realm. Overall, I’m really happy I read this. My first book from the author wasn’t my favorite but this really turned it around for me and makes me want to explore more of their backlog.

[TheMommaBookClub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruled by Blood by May Sage

𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘶𝘨 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦.
*~*~*~*
𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖: Forced into hiding her fae abilities from infancy, Nevlaria Bane is ordered by her queen to appear weak, worthless. However, her Void powers seem to be taking on a life of their own as turmoil begins to erupt along the borders of her land.

Rystan Drusk wields his own rare Fae ability: myst—the ability to control shadows. Though he knew Vlari as a young school girl, she is no longer the quiet girl who tried to go unnoticed. She is a force to be reckoned with and he intends to remain at her side as she fights the evil within the kingdom.

Can these two take on new enemies while dodging secrets and underhanded dealings from within the realm? Or will the war they wage leave them doomed to repeat history?
*~*~*~*
𝕊𝕖𝕩 𝕊𝕔𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤: While we don’t get very much frequency in this slow-burn romance, the scenes we DO get are hot, Hot, HOT!! Both of these characters are desperate to experience and hold onto each other while the world burns down around them and I. AM. HERE. FOR. IT!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5 for description, heat, and some variety!
*~*~*~*
【$】: $4.99 and worth every penny! This is essentially two books in one, so you’re definitely getting a deal! If you enjoy detailed world-building with a slow burn romance than this book is for you. The evolution of Vlari’s character is executed beautifully— not to mention I’m a huge fan of a fated mate trope! Go for the DL!

[Zoe L.]

Eeeee! The fae are back! I LOVE a good fae book and this one was such a great addition to those reads. Set in a typical cruel and wild world of creatures and nature, Ruled by Blood brings us a delightful cast of dreadful characters. And on top of that there is A LOT that happens in this book! So be prepared for a whirlwind of emotions!

This book does take a little bit of time to get into. There’s just so much to wrap your head around and that mixed with the ethereal writing just takes a hot minute to get used to. BUT, once you do adjust hold on tight because wow was this a thrilling story! There is just so much for you to devour within. But I think my favorite part of this book were all of the different types of fae that we got to meet along the way.

This duology bound in one is such an amazing read though. It’s been a little bit since I’ve read a new fae book so I was super happy to get back into the mix of these delightfully terrible creatures. There’s something just so comforting being surrounded by a cast of characters that are perfectly imperfect.

You can view my full review on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!

Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
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[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Power over life. Power over death. I was blessed with the very ability Nyx herself had wielded.”

The world of the Wicked Court is a dangerous one. Vlari knows this better than anyone, she was born with a tremendous power bestowed upon her by her ancestors. A power which rivals that of even her jealous grandmother, Morgana – the current Queen of the Wicked Court - who bound Vlari’s power for fear they would one day usurp her own. Because of this, Vlari keeps her head down, trying to make herself un-noticeable, lest she risk the wrath of her Grandmother. Although the spell that her grandmother cast wore off years ago, Vlari never willingly uses her power, that is, until the night of Samhain. On the night she attends Samhain, with the frustratingly hot Rystan Drusk, who finagled a bargain of sorts to get Vlari to attend with him, war comes and with it, betrayal and great change.

What a compelling world May Sage created! It’s rich with Fae creatures, each with their own unique characteristics and dispositions. The main characters are relatable and compelling, the romance charming and my favorite trope – enemies to lovers – gotta love that banter! The magic system is fascinating, just like the world building. Solid YA fantasy that I enjoyed!

[Blonde and Bookish (Michayla) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars!
Ruled by Blood is a fantasy book set in the land of Tenebris, with Nevlaria Bane (Vlari), an incredibly powerful pixie, as the main character. May Sage built an incredible world with wonderful characters. I found Vlari to be a very relatable character, and Drusk was immediately identified as the attractive but mysterious love interest. I am always a fan of a good enemies to lovers trope, so I really enjoyed the interactions between Vlari and Drusk. The storyline was very fast paced and the book is split into two volumes, with volume one leaving you with a giant cliffhanger (thank goodness for volume two!). I also really enjoyed that volume one was from Vlari’s POV and then switched to Drusk’s POV in the second.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would suggest it for people who are fans of Holly Black’s Folk of the Air, or any other books having to do with Faerie realms!

[Doodle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruled by Blood contains the titles Wicked Court and Shadow Cursed. I enjoyed this duo but I enjoyed the second book more than the first. May Sage creates an interesting world full of intriguing characters and spins a tale full of action, magic, heartache and love.

The first book held my attention and made me want to discover what happens to the characters that are introduced, but, at times, the story had to "pause" for too long as explanations about the world were given. When the action resumed, it could be jarring since the reader was taken on a long sidebar to learn more about the world the characters are in. The second book featured a better balance of exposition and action, which could have been because the first book bore much of the responsibility of world-building.

I would rate the first book as 3 stars and the second book as 5 stars, giving the duo 4 stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jess Ostrander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vlari was born a princess, but lives her life as unassuming as possible to avoid the wrath of the Unseelie queen. She keeps her powers hidden, and deals in secrets and favors. But when war erupts, Vlari's powers are fully awakened and she may be the only thing standing between Tenebris and destruction.

I was so hooked into this book! It's a striking adult fantasy, with all the classic elements of the fae. There's action, adventure, romance, and excellent characters. I loved Vlari, and how she developed. I like that she's not a perfect character and has many interesting flaws and shades of grey. And I love Drusk! And the banter was on point. There's also some steam to this read, and I was here for the relationship development. There's some great elements of humor too.
I definitely recommend this one if you're a fan of fantasy, hate to love, and fast paced books!
Thank you to Book of Matches Media and the author for the arc!

[Bookaddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced, thrilling... trully amazing!
Fantasy at her best!
It trick you to rge slow first pages, but too soon it hook you and you can’t let it from your hands!
It’s addictive!
And the best part - contain the 2 parts of the book, so you not have to wait to read it all!
The characters make you fall in love!
Vlari is such a complex character - seeming so bland in the beginning, trully no one.... but this is only the facade, becouse she is all you have expected from her, and beyond.
And Drusk is the perfect man for her - strong and sweet at the same time, understanding and supportive!
Surelly I’ll check out “The cursed crown”

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sage takes elements from many similar types of novels and manages to create a whole bloodthirsty world of fae and humans vying for control that feels fresh. Vlari, at first a fae forced to minimize and hide her powers, grows to be a power that must be reckoned with by all in the lands. The male who had been one of her childhood rivals, grows to become a staunch ally and defender of the lands. In the midst of betrayals, attempted assassinations, enchantments and all out battle, Vlari must not only save the land and people she loves, but fight for her love, as well. Engrossing and highly entertaining, I found myself unable to put this duology down and I read the whole thing in two sittings. The characters and the plot were both captivating.

[Mariko L. Odhner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

May Sage/Alexi Blake is a talented writer. I like her word usage. Some of her descriptions are amazing, some confusing. The start of Wicked Court was more on the confusing side. It has many images, but has to cover a lot of character and court introductions. It works fine, but the exposition detracts from the imagery. Part of the challenge, ironically, is that the protagonist has three surviving grandparents and both parents to introduce in addition to explaining however many courts, heredity, etc.

I enjoyed the twist at the end. Totally thought the spy would be within the inner circle. All in all delightful read though!

[Celine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4 stars.

Thank you to Book of Matches Media for sending me the ARC I'm exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this NA fantasy duet - it was fast paced and full of action. I really enjoyed the fae lore and loved the slow burn romance.

Vlari was such an interesting protagonist, with her half Fae/pixie background. I really liked the romance between her and Drusk as well as how strong she was a character.

A great NA fae book!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruled by Blood was a fun fast ride with fae, pixies, goblins, spirits and more! It starts off with action and grabs your attention right away. The main character’s power was unique and something I really enjoyed.

There’s enemies to lovers which I know many of us love and boy does it get steamy!

If you’re looking for a book that’s hard to put down, definitely grab this one!

Rating 4.5 stars