Divine Blood

Guardians of the Maiden #1

by Beck Michaels

The Shadow demon nearly took everything from Dynalya Astron, and it would soon return for more. When she discovers a way to fight back, she must go on a perilous journey and risk it all for those she holds dear.

Along the way, she meets Cassiel, a Celestial Prince with magic blood and wings as black as his heart. He wants nothing to do with Dyna until he learns she could lead him to a place he has been searching for all his life.

But reaching their destination is not as easy as they thought, nor are they the only ones who search for it. With danger at every turn and harrowing secrets between them, the quest will require much more than determination. They must fight for what they desire—or die trying.

For fans of Throne of Glass, The Cruel Prince, and The Lord of the Rings comes Beck Michael's debut novel with remarkable characters, a budding romance, and gripping action. Divine Blood is the first book of an Epic Dark Fantasy series that explores the depths of loss, acceptance, and the true meaning of courage.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Romantasy, Angels

467 pages, Hardcover

First published June 3, 2020

About the author

BECK MICHAELS is the author of the YA epic fantasy series The Guardians of the Maiden. She has been working on the Guardians series for over fifteen years, so she’d like to believe her characters exist in some tangible dimension, even if it's only in her imagination.

Beck lives in Indiana with her husband and two children, where she spends her time reading and daydreaming of adventures in faraway lands.

Reviews

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

i enjoyed this a lot more than i thought i would! i honestly have no memory of how i came across this book or how it ended up on my tbr, but im glad it did!

there is a lot going on in this story. with magical creatures such as angels, werewolves, mages, sorceresses, elves, etc. and how these different groups interact with each other, it can feel quite overwhelming. the world building is there, but i think the author was trying to prevent the reader from getting confused, so it does feel minimal. it got to the point where i was just going along with everything and trying not to overthink it. lol.

but i really liked the characters (dyna, zev, and cassiel are everything) and i liked how there is one major story line with little stories along the way that you know will tie-in later to the overall narrative. i do wish a little more progress was made with regard to the characters’ journey. for nearly 500 pages, i thought they would have gotten further. but there is great character development and connections made, so i guess i cant really complain.

definitely looking forward to the next book in the series and i highly recommend this to any fans of YA fantasy!

↠ 4 stars

[lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

reread #3: 4 stars (february 2023)
reread #2: 5 stars (october 2022)
reread #1: 4.5 stars (august 2021)
first read: 4 stars (jan 2021)

as you can tell by all my rereads, im pretty much obsessed with this series. 🤪

❝Some people value wealth, land, and prosperity. I value my family. They are all I have, and one thing I've learned is that family is something we must hold on to.❞

Dyna. my bby was so protective and innocent and righteous in her approach to everything, so sensitive and yet determined - and these were all traits of hers that i admired, much as her naïveté pissed me off sometimes, bc i got where she was coming from. i got that she just became exposed to the real world, so it took time for her to adjust. and i loved her for it. her morals, the way she regarded family over everything?? LOVE IT. 🥰

He was starlight, and wonder, and questions without answers. But she was willing to wait to uncover them.

Cassiel. i can list infinity things i love about him 🥺😭 i love him so fucking much, omg.

☆ the way he cares so much about what Dyna thought from the beginning.
☆ the way he saved her over and over again with no regard for his own soul.
☆ the way he was so soft for her but he'd never admit it.
☆ the way he got all shy and blushing and yet also so cuteee gahh.
☆ the way he'd try to apologise for everything wrong he did but in that very subtle way.
☆ the way he bought her everything she needed but would never admit he paid that much attention to her.
☆ who did this to you + touch her and you die *crying with excitement rn*
☆ the way he always came back for her, ALWAYS, was hers all the time.
☆ the way he tortured everyone for her.
☆ the way he had such strong feelings for her but didn't know how to tell her and convey that.

if i start listing down everything, it'd become too much, so i'm not going to haha. just - I ADORE HIM. TO BITS. 🙃

❝I feared I would never see you again,❞ she murmured, listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat.
❝As did I,❞ he said into her hair, his breath caressin her cheek.
❝You can say it. I'm a stupid human.❞
Cassiel pulled back to look at her. He lifted her face and gently wiped her tears away. ❝I'm the stupid one. I should not have let you out of my sight.❞
She chuckled faintly. ❝Stupid Celestial.❞
A smile lit his face for the first time since they met, and her stomach pitched. He looked at her with a tenderness that left her heart soaring as though it had a pair of wings.

Dyna and Cassiel. tbh i love them so so much but i might be biased just a teeny bit after reading the next two books as well, but idc. i love the shit outta them. love the way they were just each others'. 🥺🥰

Zev. i swear, the way his character was written was so thoughtful. i mean, his entire existence was only to protect Dyna or so he thought - which was so heartbreaking. i love him, i love his protective tendencies so much and my heart broke so much for him, for what he had to go through. 🥺😭

Von. ngl i have a soft spot for him, even after reading everything he did in this book - that's not enough to dissuade me from loving him bc everything that happens to him 😭😭 whatever he did here, I'M STRAIGHT-OUT EXCUSING IT don't mind me bc i love him.

❝I'll come back to you. I always do.❞
❝You'd better, Von Conaghan. Don't leave me alone in this world.❞ Not with that man. She didn't need to say it. He heard it clear as he'd heard the fear in her voice.
❝How could I when I love you more than my own life?❞
Yavi smiled through her tears. ❝How much?❞
Von lifted her onto the horse. He laced his fingers deep in her silken locks at the back of her head, pulling her close. ❝This much,❞ he whispered and dispelled any further protest with a kiss.

Von and Yavi. I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM i honestly didn't like them much in my first read, but after certain *ahem* events i just started truly appreciating them so much. 💗✨

Lucenna. she's really badass and angry and powerful, and that's about it in this book lol. oh - and she finds Zev a lil attractive. 😏

Rawn. can't wait for more interactions with the elf in the next book, he was just so honorable and had his own secrets. ✨

BASICALLY i loved this. the world-building was so good, the plot was brilliant, the characters? CHEF'S KISS. definitely rec. 💗💗

i loved rereading this (again 😭) with you, koisty, it was so much fun!! <33

[Rebecca (life's chaotic catching up) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Be careful in there, blossom. Where there is unrest, there is trouble."

Well, Dyna definitely finds a lot of trouble!! We are in the Land of Urn and Dynalya is faced with the self-imposed tasked of saving her village from a shadow demon that killed most of her family and threatens to steal away the few loved ones she has left. Dyna begins her perilous journey to find the mysterious island that she believes holds the answer to defeating her enemy and along the way meets the handsome and very terse Celestial, Cassiel. Cassiel, Dyna, and Dyna's fierce and loyal cousin Zev, all set out on the quest with each of them having their own personal motivations for wanting to reach the island. Their journey will be dangerous and theirs will be a difficult partnership.

I really liked this book. The world building and the magic system feels immense and really well executed. I loved all the different POVs, it feels like there is a whole cast of main characters which just helped add to the feeling of the epic fantasy vibe this book gives. There are so many layers to this book and the more you read the more complex the story becomes. I thought all of the characters were really well written, and I was invested in all of them equally which rarely ever happens. This book feels like it's just the foundation to a much bigger adventure and I am really looking forward to continuing the series!

Dyna-Dynalya is an interesting character, she is completely unprepared for any kind of perilous journey, but she is self-aware enough to realize that she needs her companions to aid her in her quest and she is brave and determined. I will admit that she is a little "Disney princess" at the moment and I am waiting for her to show some teeth.
"Some people value wealth, land, and prosperity. I value my family. They are all I have and the one thing I've learned is that family is something we must hold on to."

Cassiel- The grumpy Celestial Prince. He is just funny. I love how rude and blunt he is, but I also think his backstory is really interesting and sad. I like how the author built his character around the circumstances surrounding his childhood and what it means to be someone like him. I don't know if I feel the sparks between him and Dyna yet, but I think the seeds are being planted, it's for sure a slow burn.

"What are you doing?" Cassiel asked dully, "Are you trying to break your neck because this is how you break your neck."

"She is a living calamity, that one. It is no wonder humans do not live long."
😂 So grumpy, I love it.

"Family hurts you far worse than anyone else ever could. Relying on others, expecting anything of them, only leads to disappointment." 🥹🥹

Zev-My absolute favorite character and it's not even close! If anything happens to Zev I RIOT!! He is so noble and loving. The way he loves and protects Dyna makes my heart squeeze out of my chest and his feelings of self-loathing and sadness are so heartbreaking I just want to reach through the pages and hug him! I am so excited to see how his story continues. And his developing friendship with Cassiel gives me so much joy!

He pushed past the confused Celestial prince and caged her in his arms. It was the quickest way to ward off Dyna's terror. She needed to feel the physical presence of another person to remember she wasn't alone. "You have nothing to fear," Zev soothed. "I'm with you." 😭😭😭

Von, Rawn, Elon and Lucenna Fascinated by every one of these characters! Can't wait for more of each of their stories!

Thank you to my sweet friend Gillian for reading this with me! I loved discussing our thoughts about all the characters and happenings with you!!💙💙💙

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Some people value wealth, land and prosperity. I value my family. They are all I have and one thing I’ve learned is that family is something we must hold on to.”

This book was so good! This was an exciting and enchanting romantic fantasy about loss, acceptance, love, the meaning of family and courage. Divine Blood follows Dynalya as she goes on a journey to find a weapon to take down the Shadow demon, who killed most of her family. During her quest, she meets Cassiel, an angel who has magic blood and black wings. Dyna and her champions realize that other people are after the weapon and they must fight to survive.

I was completely immersed in this unique and enchanting world that the author created from the first page. The plot was very interesting and the pacing was perfect. The world building was great, although it was a bit overwhelming and confusing at first. I loved learning about the unique lands and creatures including angels, demons, werewolves, sorceresses, mages, elves and more.

The characters were interesting and complex. My favorite character is Zev, I love him so much. He is such a cinnamon roll, he must be protected. He is brave, loyal, protective, sweet, and strong. I loved that he did anything to protect his cousin, Dyna. I loved their sibling-like bond, they joked with each other and protected each other, it was adorable. His character development was great, I loved watching him grow and realize that he does deserve to live. I really liked Dnya, she is sweet, innocent, kind, brave, resilient, but she is naive at times. I loved how determined Dyna was and how much she loves her family. I can relate, I love my family more than anything. Dyna is so strong and brave, even when challenges and upsetting things happened to her she didn't loose her kindness. I really like Cassiel, he is strong, protective, resilient, brave, but he was a bit rude to Dyna. Cassiel had a rough past, I really hope he can heal. I loved the side characters especially Von, Elon, and Rawn. Von is protective, loyal, kind, strong and will do anything for his wife. Elon and Rawn, are both awesome, loyal, strong and brave.

The romance between Cassiel and Dyna was a bit lacking. I didn't feel the chemistry between them until the end. There were some cute scenes between them that made me smile and blush. The slow-burn romance was so good.

The writing and storytelling was awesome. The writing was descriptive and easy to follow. I felt like I was transported to the world through the author's writing. The ending was so good and exciting! I can't wait to read the next book!

Thank you so much Rebecca for reading this book with me! I had so much fun discussing my thoughts with you!

[Koisty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Black Feather Stars ⭐️

I am going to be totally honest and say I should pay more attention to the genres of books because when I started this, this felt more epic fantasy to me than paranormal. So I was a little confused at the first appearance of ANGELS *ahem - celestials*. (This might also be because most of the paranormal fantasy I have read is urban). However genre surprises aside, I really enjoyed this and adored that feeling of epic whilst still having the paranormal magical creatures such as werewolves, lycans, mages, and of course angels present in the world.

This multi-POV story is a unique blend comprising one main story arc while still having various smaller arcs blended into the mix. We are thrown pretty quickly into the story with an epic prologue, where our main female protagonist Dyna (Dynalya) loses her parents and baby brother to the "Shadow". This demon is known to appear every 10 years, so Dyna has made it her mission to destroy the monster before his next appearance. To do so she embarks on a quest for a hidden island that is known to be the safe haven of a weapon that can vanquish shadow. Along the way she meets Cassiel, a "Celestial" half-breed Prince with black wings, who after saving her life (numerous times) joins her journey as he has his own mysterious reason for finding the Island. They are shortly joined by Zev, Dyna's lycan cousin and their treacherous journey, filled with murder, bloodshed, prophecy and magic truly begins!

The world-building in this is phenomenal and it can really be seen how much care was taken to create such a rich, intricate and complex world. The descriptions of the world, people, creatures and magic are elaborate, without being overwhelming purple prose. There is also an amazing foundation of lore and history which has driven the character and race politics and this is slowly presented to the reader throughout the book, without it feeling info-dumpy in any way!

The writing was also really good as it had a flair of being easy to read whilst still being able to balance the plot, character development and descriptions in a way that made everything feel equal and important without overshadowing one aspect in particular. However, whilst being easy to read, this book DEFINITELY increased my vocabulary as I learnt a fair few words I didn't know! To me this was absolutely delightful, as a girl who carries around a little blue-book-self-made dictionary of new words I learn in books, this felt like a treat.

Dyna as a character was one I really enjoyed but also found the most irritating when in her POV. I couldn't wait for the story to move back to her POV (mainly because her arc does follow the main storyline) however her character is the reason this feels very YA. She is determined and stubborn to pursue her goals with almost blind stupidity to the world. She does come from a small town so hasn't had as much exposure to the "real world" so her naivety and stupid choices (most of which almost kill her) can be irritating and she does experience a lot of "firsts". However I do feel this is almost a conscious choice by the author to show her character progression as the story moves on, so I have pushed my frustrations down and will wait and see.

Cassiel definitely felt more mature as a character, as he is quite intelligent but also slightly damaged. He has to deal with the trauma of the hardship and brutality of his people as well as his insecurity of himself. These play a huge factor in making him perceive himself as not worthy. He can be grumpy; but towards Dyna, he is compassionate, caring, generous and kind. In the words of My Darling Penguin "It's official. I have a thing for winged dudes, no matter the subgenre" AND I couldn't agree more!

My heart truly broke for Zev and everything that he has gone through. Whilst on the outside he can appear to be a puppy instead of a wolf, the trauma of his past is heart-wrenchingly sad and being a half-breed has also brought on the extra stress and hardship of being ostracised from everyone except Dyna. I want to protect him with all my heart!

I am going to put Von, Rawn and Lucenna in the same boat. These are all intriguing, compelling and complex characters but I am not yet sure what the mystery and driving forces are behind their motives and ideals. I don't yet know if I can develop trust for them or open my heart to love them. What has been presented however has lain an awesome foundation for the next books.

The reason for me why this isn't a 5-star is down to my own personal preference. There are 5 POV's and I normally stick to dual (or at the most 3). The problem with so many POV's is that it can damage the plot progression as you are constantly stopping and starting as you move on to new characters and it makes the main plot arc drag longer. The other aspect is it doesn't allow as strong characterisation to occur as you are only given small snippets of each character in the chapters. It is why I am so apprehensive of Von and Lucenna, as although they are POV characters, we don't spend too much time in their heads for me to feel like I know them enough.

The second is to do with the relationship between Dyna and Cassiel. Whilst generally I felt like he was the more "mature" one in the relationship, a lot of the relationship conflict and tension is pretty juvenile because of miscommunication or lack of communication - which I typically see in YA Romances. I do know this a YA book but for myself, I prefer to have the conflict be "external" to the characters vs the inability for characters to JUST TALK AND HAVE A CONVERSATION! ALSO They haven't even kissed yet 😭

All in all, I would recommend this book because whilst I had personal gripes it really was a fantastic complex book that gave me almost everything I look for in a Fantasy Romance - I also feel absolutely privileged to have shared one of my GR Besties 💖 favourite book with her as we went through the Buddy Read

⊱------------------------------⊰

WORDS I LEARNT WHILE READING THIS BOOK
▸Geld - castrate (a male animal).
▸Rube - a country bumpkin.
▸Daub - carelessly coat or smear (a surface) with a thick or sticky substance. I had always thought this was *dab* - she *dabbed* some perfume on her neck, vs she *daubed* some....
▸ Pillock - a stupid person.
▸ Pish - 1. used to express annoyance, impatience, or disgust. 2. Urine
▸ Rill - a brook or stream; rivulet
▸ Sobriquet - is a nickname, sometimes assumed. It is typically a familiar name used in place of a real name
▸ Kirtle - a woman's gown or outer petticoat. A common garment worn in the middle ages
▸ Panoply - 1. an extensive or impressive collection. 2. a splendid display.
▸ Redingote - a woman's long coat with a cutaway or contrasting front.
▸ Sozzled - very drunk.
▸ Keening - the action of wailing in grief for a dead person.

How many did you know????

[SHOMPA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, after seeing everyone's reviews and ratings, I was a little hesitant before starting the book. I had no idea it would be so good and addictive. I got more than I asked for.

- Enemy to lover trope
- Accidental marriage
- Grumpy-sunshine
- SOLID friendship
- Angels-demons-werewolves-elves
- Clean romance
- A breath-taking cliffhanger

I am glad I gave it a try. This book has everything I love to read in a fantasy book: slow-burn romance, great characters, an adventurous journey, magic, fights, secrets, and most thrilling of all, a quest to find a hidden island. Of course, it started with a slow but solid foundation, which is why I think every aspect of the story turned out perfectly balanced to the last page. And the ending has me so excited for the sequel. I can't wait to read the next book!

[✨ Helena ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

THAT’S HOW YOU END IT?! 😤

Ok so I LOVED THIS.

Everyone who compared it to LOTR was pretty accurate in their description!!! Like LOTR, the best part of the book was the world building. Not only were there several kingdoms, but there was such an amalgamation of various creatures, as well! Humans, mages, sorceresses, seers, celestials, demons, werewolves, elves, faeries, trolls and even MINOTAURS!!! 🤯

Plus, in LOTR fashion, there was a long journey, a quest, and a company of companions with a common goal. I really enjoyed getting to know Dyna (mage), Cassiel (celestial) and Zev (werewolf).

I can’t wait for the upcoming sequel!!! 🥰

[⊹ Gabriela | Asternyx ⊹ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was something else. Something I was searching for. Something I, actually, craved.
I had a good feeling about it from the start, and I was right, as it captured me from the beginning!

We are thrown into a world full of magic, mages, Celestials, werewolves and other mystical creatures lurking around, danger at every step, always feeling the need to watch your back.

⤏ What to expect:
∘ YA Fantasy Romance
∘ Adventure
∘ Angels, Mages & supernatural creatures
∘ Multiple POV
⤏ Tropes:
∘ Enemies to Lovers
∘ Grumpy x Sunshine
∘ Slowburn
∘ Strangers to Friends to Lovers
∘ The Chosen One

⤏ Plot/Writing & Worldbuilding
Being that type of book where we are putting our good clothes on, filling a bag full of supplies, and going on a journey, I was so grateful for that map.
The descriptions were on point, not too lengthy, not too short, but just right. I could picture everything so easily, I felt like I was walking through the city with them, admiring the scenery.
The magic system was also well explained.
This plot gave me fairy tale vibes and I absolutely loved it.

We get so much information regarding this world and its history, the characters, the magic system and so on, and I'm really grateful for it!
I haven't felt overwhelmed by the amount of information I was getting, because it was divided and given to you at the right time, at the right moment. Not thrown at you in a 10-page monologue (like other books). This is a thing many books lack, but not Divine Blood , because this one was well structured.

⤏ Characters
When it comes to characters, every one of them, has a role, they're not there just to be *if you get what I'm saying*. They exist in this story for a reason, and it isn't for display.
Not to mention that the character development impressed me and I'm going to tell you a bit about our characters.
∘ Dynalya
She is a bit naive and too trustful sometimes, but given the circumstances she grew up in and the knowledge that was kept away from her ... it's understandable.
She is a kind girl, sometimes too kind ... and I felt bad for her because there are many people who seek to take advantage of her. She's a strong character and her evolution throughout the story is noticeable.
∘ Cassiel
My dear Cassiel *sigh* I love him with all my heart, I really do, but hell if he's not complicated ... *or should I say heavens?*
This man ... I don't know how should I describe him without giving away too much, but I'll just tell you that he is going to become one of your favorite male characters.
∘ Zev
He is officially my favorite werewolf, you'll find out why.
Speaking of werewolves, I was so fascinated by the way they were presented in this book. It was the first book I read that also had a reference to Lycans.
There were more than 3 POVs, but you shouldn't be alarmed even if you might think you're not a fan of this kind of storytelling. I'll tell you why, in this case, you're going to have no problem at all.
In "Divine Blood" the multiple POVs aren't useless, because through them we find out other things relevant to the story and also, not boring at all.

⤏ The relationships between characters
I like that the author chose to "build" these relationships between her characters, rather than just made it appear , out of thin air, like in a lot of books I read lately ...
They all started from somewhere, from strangers to acquaintances to friends or even more *wink* and it was so nice to see how these relationships were formed, how they evolved.
∘ There are a few characters with mysterious powers and I'm waiting for the next book to find out what kind of power they wield.

⤏ Conclusion
It has been a long time since I read a fantasy book this good and trust me when I tell you that this book is worthy of your #mustread stack.
Note that this is not something I tell you often

[Beck Michaels]

The low rays of the sunset fell around him in a red, golden hue, accenting his silk black wings and striking features framed by hair so black it looked like spilled ink against his face. He didn’t seem real. How could he be? His kind no longer existed in the world.
Not sure if she was dreaming, Dyna reached out to touch him, needing to prove he was truly there. The moment her fingertips brushed his cool cheek, a gentle electric current pulsed between them. He flinched, inhaling a sharp breath. His ethereal features tightened into a scowl, and he withdrew his arms, leaving her to fall.

—Divine Blood

[michelle ✧ · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a fan of fantasy romance, I initially had high hopes for this book. However, despite my best efforts to stick with it, I ended up feeling greatly disappointed.

Personally, I'm not particularly fond of the "pure, sheltered girl turned chosen one" trope, and this was one of the reasons why I didn't enjoy reading this book. The insta-love romance was also a major turn-off for me, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find myself getting into it. While the world presented in the book held some level of interest, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the excessive amount of information that the author attempted to convey through the characters' conversations. As a result, the dialogue often came across as forced and stilted. At times, it felt more like I was reading a passage from a glossary rather than a genuine conversation between friends. The lore surrounding the world was presented in a massive infodump, making it difficult to fully absorb and appreciate it.

Overall, my reading experience was marred by these issues, and I found it challenging to fully engage with the story due to all of the infodump and the lack of a compelling romance.

[~ Tara Bezeau ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhhh! That ending though!! Can’t wait to read the next book! What a very well written book!

[Yeg · Rating 5 out of 5]

~ 4.5 stars~

I realized i didn't have proper review for this book and I'll be definitely reading the sequel soon. I don’t know how to start my review. To be honest, I was shocked, mesmerized, and in awed of what happened in this book. The whole story was just straight up amazing. From the synopsis alone, I knew that it would a great book and well, I was right.

I liked that the story was straight to the point and it didn’t waste any more time especially in the beginning when Dyna decided to go on her own journey to Mount Ida. In most books, it would take the main character 5 to 10 chapters before they begin their journey. So I was glad to see Dyna already started her journey on chapter 3. That early was much better than postponing it.

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Characters:

I liked the relationship between Dyna, Zev, and Cassiel. Both of them are protective of her and try their best to protect her. Zev is hot-headed and a tough guy but turns into a softie when it comes to Dyna. And Cassiel...I have a lot to say but I don't want to spoil anything haha. But I really liked him and how he's fighting his attraction to Dyna.(Also I'm so happy the book didn't get to point of any love triangle thanks god and zev was so good i wanted to have a cousin like him) I also love that whenever cassiel did something out if feeling or so he subconsciously cringed😂😂 that reminds me of type INTP😁

as i mentioned, There wasn’t any romance between Dyna and Cassiel here, but maybe in the next book? They are soulmates (obviously, I knew it from the first time they met).

I want to add that the story were told in multiple POVs, which helps me a lot when it comes to understanding this big wide world and helps me learn the motive of each character. Having multiple POVs in a book is a great move on the author’s part, because it definitely help the readers see and learn a lot more about each characters and as a reader myself.


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Worldbuilding:

The fantasy world in this book was a bit complex, but also mesmerizing. It was really unique and so different that I was amazed by it. The author really did a fantastic job in creating this beautiful world. So many great places you can see in this book, but my most favorite so far is Hilos. I don’t know what Mount Ida will be like, but the characters that appeared in the story talked about it too much

As for the magic, well this book featured quite a lot of magic in it. Magic is one of the most important thing in a fantasy book, and I was intrigued by how the magic in this book works. There are various supernatural beings that present in the story and each of them have different types of magic but all are powerful enough. There are mages, sorceresses, a group of seraphim, a nephilim, elves, and werewolves. It blew my mind to find out this book bring these beings together in one story. The author surely knew how to make the story even more intense and epic.

Out of all of them, my favorite will always be those beings with angelic wings, in this case the seraphim and a nephilim, but I would prefer nephilim better since they are basically half-human and half-angel, in this case is Cassiel.

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The plot:

The plot was well written and engaging filled adventure, magic and a dash of romance. The story had me captivated from the very beginning. The pacing was perfect. There’s not even a single dull moment. It’s mostly a character driven story, but I still enjoyed the ride. I loved the idea behind the epic quest and the whole guardians thing. I can already predict that the next book is going to be even more amazing.

I thought this book would focus on the matter of the Shadow Demon, but turns out there’s a bigger and far more threatening things that needed attention. Things like Tarn and his obsession with Mount Ida and him asking his men to abduct Dyna. He was so mysterious and his motive was very unnerving. The story took a dark turn ever since Von appeared who is in fact working for Tarn. So that had me thinking that Tarn is the main villain in this book—perhaps in the next book too—and the Shadow Demon is just a side villain for now, I’m sure it will be a big threat in the upcoming books.

Also a side note,my only problem about this book is, I was kind of disappointed with the ending. Everyone who read this book and I mean EVERYONE, hyped up the ending. You would expect that someone died or a big twist happened at the end, but nope. Something really simple and expected happened instead. My fault really for falling into the hype and having high expectations.

Divine Blood was an amazing debut and one of my favorite reads of 2020 and I'm so happy i enjoyed this book because honestly why not??? It was a great gentle and beautiful read and story that i feel like the sequel will bring out more. I don’t know why people aren’t talking about it. It was a rare gem. Every aspect of this book was well written. I’ve had my fill of demons and angels books, and I found this very unique. I can’t believe it was the author’s debut novel. She has done a great job with this book.

[Nγx ❦ {CLOSED ACCOUNT} · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚜𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄⚜ After my Bonded Fate read i needed more of this world so a Re-read of this beauty was due. Not a very smart move i know August is still far, far away but hey i never said i was smart actually i was blessed with 𝐙𝐄𝐑𝐎 self control when It comes to books. Still Castiel made the torture to come totally worth it.
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐅𝐔𝐋. 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐂. 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐍𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓. 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓. 𝐒𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐘 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐓. 𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐈 𝐒𝐀𝐘 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐂?

⋘•⋙---------•⪼⪻•---------⋘•⋙
If my intro didn't give away my enthusiasm properly then let me clarify it for you. This is a great story with multiple 𝐏𝐎𝐕 and fascinating characters. Each with a dark past and their own reasons for joining this incredible quest yet dangerous journey and i loved every single one of them. Like 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐘.
I absolutely adored the hell out of this book, it has everything you need out of an epic fantasy story filled with danger, magical beings and so much protectiveness. Cause let me tell you, there isn't one 𝐆𝐎𝐃𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐍 character here that doesn't have a heart-wrenching story and all i wanted to do is wrap them all in a blanket and hug them. So yeah Dyna, Zev and Castiel must be protected at all cost. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.
But honestly this was a delightful surprise, the story kept me in it's clutch by it's intrigue and one of the most fascinating world building i have ever read, not to mention the amazing characters development we got. Now i could go on but i think you get the message. 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?!
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
But that 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 i mean really. Is this how it's gonna be Beck Michaels. How rude, I'm super mad but also 𝐘𝐄𝐒!!! finally, he's bonded to you, you're bonded to him let's just accept it and embrace it all. But then again 𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐃𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐄?!?!

[Athena (OneReadingNurse) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Beck Michaels for sending me a copy of Divine Blood to read and review! This gorgeous book had me in some serious cover love when she advertised for readers!

I enjoyed my time spent in the world of Urn.  The world building is extremely well done. The book has both the map of the kingdom AND of the entire continent! It is hard to write books that contain epic journeys, with towns 90+ miles apart, and maintain a proper time and distance and bonding between characters and events, and I think this is a uniquely strong writing element in fantasy that she handled very well.  Between the length of the journey and the motley group, I was getting Lord of the Rings vibes.  She also describes beautiful trees and fauna, mountains and scenery.  In the towns we get a good idea for the general feel of things, the individual political scenarios, and small details like foods and currency even.  There are only local swears like “God of Urn!” and nothing that detracts from the immersion.  Like I said, I really appreciate the world building so far.

The description should really say for fans of ACOTaR, Cassiel is perfect to fill that Rhysand shaped hole in everyone’s heart.  The characters are the central aspect of the book, and make up a motley crew for sure.  Dynalya is the foreseen maiden of mage descent, trying to save her family and village from a demon that takes children.  Also she is a magical healer so YAY! Zev, her cousin, is a lycan with a temper.  Cassiel is a handsome prince.  Each has their own struggles and feelings of inadequacy and lack of acceptance to overcome.  The book spans quite a number of miles travelled and the characters grow on each other at a seemingly appropriate rate.  The only thing that bugged me was how Dynalya changes between the points of view – she is portrayed as super brave in her chapters but in the other POVs she is treated like a 6 year old precious flower with no self preservatio.  I have to agree more on the stupid human that can’t be alone in the dark at age 19 portrayal, than the brave woman one, it just seems like a huge change.

The other characters include an elf with some seriously amazing magic, a torn commander who is working for an evil mage (p.s. these 2 are my favorite characters, Rawn and Von), and a sassy sorceress who also has some awesome magic.  All sorts of magical races from minotaurs to elves to werewolves are in this book, and Dynalya ends up with six guardians so I can’t wait to see who else pops up in book 2.

My only real qualm with the book is a few (maybe 5 total) blatant editing mishaps, they are few and far in between though and I hate to bring it up but it distracts me so much from the pace of things.  The other enjoyment issue for me was the pacing – the plot pulls back and meanders in the middle half to build the characters and world while they travel.  I do enjoy these things and there was plenty of action thrown in too, but it wasn’t a compulsive read until the last quarter.  I guess to summarize: this is more of a classic fantasy and I’m only truly docking a star for Dyna’s bipolar portrayal, none of these other reasons.

As far as content: I would put this in the ‘clean reads’ category!

So yes – I do fully recommend this for fantasy readers who enjoy a romantic twist in a well built world.  It is one of those rare ones that really truly has something for everyone.

[Ashlee » libraryinthecountry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun, solid start to this series. I can to wait to see where it goes next, especially as we’re just now starting to meet more players in this story!

Full review on its way, but in the meantime, I recommend checking this one out!

[Hina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cover ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Expectations/First Impressions

That cover is GORGEOUS! I really like it ❤️ I read the prologue before reading anything else and it sucked me in. I loved the darkness and all the questions it left like what are the shadows who died? So I am a huge fan of angels! I am excited to read this and it being an epic fantasy definitely my forte and my preference when it comes to fantasy!

Plot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
MC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Enjoyment ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved it
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I really liked it
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked it
⭐️⭐️ It was okay/meh
⭐️ I hated it


Tropes: A quest, Magical Artifact, She’s not like the other girls, Fated/Mated lovers, SUPER Slow Burn

Trigger Warnings: Very minimal language, Some references to Sexual Content but nothing explicit, thoughts of suicide are discussed (brief but significant to a character)

Would recommend for... happy endings? Lovers of Epic Fantasy and Game of Thrones, Multiple POV 3rd person readers, lovers of world building and description

Would not recommend for... people who need a strong romantic plotline or subplot, people who usually only like character driven stories, super fans of enemies to lovers tropes, haters fated/mated love and slow burn

Age Recommendation 17+

A quest driven epic fantasy that is sure to take you on an adventure through the eyes of different points of view and a vastly complex world. READ IT!

SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT ON

I am a little peeved right now because... I wrote this whole section and Goodreads just noped me so hard.



I will ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE but no promises.

So I had a lot of feelings about this book. I just want to place a disclaimer that I really liked this book. I love Dyna, but I will not say that I always agreed with what Dyna did and that's just who she is. It's like when a character so near and dear to your heart takes on human form. She's like that one friend you love but you aren't sure why they are making such poor life decisions. With that being said-- Here is my rant!

First off... WHAT ARE YOU DOING DYNA LIKE WHY ARE YOU SO DUMB?!



Cassiel summed it up the best:

"What are you doing?" Cassiel said dully. "Are you attempting to break your neck? Because this is how you break your neck."

Dyna.... frustrates me... She is just.... LIKE WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Like how can someone be naive, smart, stupid, nice, submissive, and suicidal ALL AT THE SAME TIME?! Is there a functioning brain up there?

Every time she went off to do something stupid before she did it I was like...



Because Lord knows this chick needs help...

Is this a trash Dyna fest...?



But you know what it's okay because the heavens have answered with Cassiel and Zev.

Cue Cassiel Swoon Moment



Cassiel is just.... all the FEELS. I loved him... his broodiness. His inner turmoil. His total conflicting thoughts. Especially in his later chapters regarding the Blood Bond. It was just.... ALL THE FEELSSSSSSSSS.



Bite me.

And did I mention the hotness of the totally fractured soul named Zev?

Cue Zev Swoom Moment



I just loved the OTHER I loved his past and the brokenness that comes with it. I love his loyalty and protectiveness over Dyna. I just loved it all. Zev you better get a love interest next book.

You better.

No seriously if it doesn't happen... 1 STARS 1 STARS FOREVER.



But let's be honest Dyna should've been dead if it were not for Cassiel and Zev. And apparently... Rawn WHO CAME OUT OF NOWHERE LIKE...



OH AND LUCENNA



I felt like I wanted to know more about her! But for now it was okay to be introduced to her. I have no real feelings about Lucenna.

Von was alright. but he confused me. Like he was all... I WORK FOR THE BAD GUY but then he's like I DON'T WANNA WORK FOR THE BAD GUY and he also has a forbidden romance and at night he's like getting it on with yavi but in the morning he's like YES SIR TARN YES SIR and basically shutting down everyone and their mother who has the smart idea to book it. but no not you Von. WHY VON?! WHY?



You confuse me. Leave for Yavi. Leave for yourself. Leave for ... LIKE ANYTHING JUST LEAVE CAUSE ITS GETTING OLD AND I DONT UNDERSTAND YOU.

Also I don't understand everyone's peek a boo appearances and need to save Dyna or pledge their undying fealty to a Lamb. Yes a lamb because that's what Dyna is. she looks like this...



Yes Baa Dyna. Because that's all you do. Toss yourself into danger and then the HOT CASSIEL AND ZEV ARE LIKE



and dyna is all like...



and then Rawn is like...



And Lucenna just kind of comes out of nowhere and is like...



Don't ask me. I am just going to take Cassiel and Zev and in the meanwhile I will tie up Dyna.

She won't mind anyways she will probably thank me when I untie her and apologize for sweating, peeing or anything else on my floor.



But yeah Zev and Cassiel are mine.



All in all I enjoyed the book despite Dyna the lamb (She's gonna become a badass I am waiting for it!) and Von DONT MAKE UP YOUR MIND.


I highly recommend this book to everyone because characters with strong personalities are IT. Beck Michael's is a beautiful writer with an amazing story that will leave you feeling you hate her because HOW COULD YOU LEAVE US ON THAT CLIFF HANGER?!

I shall now go back to my regular scheduled Zev & Cassiel Program.

Cue Zev and Cassiel Swoon Moment

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5

O.M.G. This book is the fantasy book I didn’t know I was craving in my July TBR. It’s a fantasy novel with mages & werewolves, Celestials & elves, prophecies & curses, an angsty winged prince, a formidable quest, and enemies to lovers. ❤️ What MORE could you want in a book?

📚Dynalya is a girl who is determined to save her village of North Star from the Shadow demon attacks that claim the lives of the village children once every 10 years, with the help of her cousin Zev. Along the way, they meet Prince Cassiel, a Celestial royal who is scorned and outcast by the others at his court. As Dyna fearlessly sets out on her quest, she finds there are more dangers than she ever realized outside of her village to stand in their way—can she save her village with the help of the companions she finds along the way?

✨If you’re a fan of FBAA, the Harbinger series, the Cruel Prince—then this book is for you ✨

I absolutely can’t wait for the next book in the series, Bonded Fate, to come out on August 3!

[Ashley Haas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A trope-tastic fantasy book!

Okay, that ending was just RUDE!

However, I will forgive the author for it because I really enjoyed this book.
There aren’t a lot of YA fantasy books that contain all magical races... actually... I don’t think I can recall any books that do. That is one of the intriguing things about this book, how the author weaves them all together. It’s really cool. I’m usually not a huge fan of multiple POVs because only really talented authors can pull it off, luckily this author nailed it.

This story contains a lot of my favorite tropes which makes me an instant fan.
- enemies to lovers
- one bed
- journey to find magical object
- chosen one
- mates
- prophecy
- troubled, mysterious, bad boy 😉🤤
All the tropes that make a YA fantasy book epic!😍

While reading this book it almost reminded me of The Falling Kingdoms series. Which is one of my favorite series that I think is totally under rated.

[Lolina ⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid fantasy.

Around halfway through the story, I was planning on DNFing, just because I wasn't enjoying it in the way that I hoped I would, however, I'm really glad I stuck through this.

I don't want to write too much (because I'm so sleep-deprived I can't 😭), but I on a base level enjoyed this.

I have no doubt in praising the writing of this book, because it was actually really nice. I loved the premise behind it, and really enjoyed the first couple of chapters. The fantasy aspect of this was really strong.

-=-=-=-

The story was a very up-and-down experience for me, as the book did lose me after a certain point- which ultimately just came down to personal preference:

The multiple POVs weren't really for me- I get how everything was tied together, but I just wanted the focus to be on the MCs 😭. Anytime things were starting to get good between them, the pov would just shift and I'm picky so 💀🤷‍♀️.

I can be a lot when it comes to fantasy mixed with romance, and this was no exception 😭. Although I loved the thought behind the MCs romance, I wasn't big on how little time it actually got to develop. But apparently, there's going to be 7 books in the series 💀☝️ so I get the pacing behind everything.

I felt like there was a general feeling of detachment for all the characters with me, as they didn't really get time to develop individually. I actually enjoyed reading about some of the side characters, but I REALLY wanted more focus to be spent on Dyna and Cassiel🤷‍♀️.

Although I do tend to stray away from multiple POV fantasies, this was definitely on the better end (which is a lot coming from me lmao 😭)

-=-=-=-

This book clearly just scratches the surface of an obviously very complex world- I definitely liked it, but I don't know if I did enough to continue with the series, but we'll see🫡.

''He was starlight, and wonder, and questions without answers. But she was willing to wait to uncover them.

(I was fighting for my life trying to absord any romance crumbs between the two lmao 💀)

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ✨

What a start to a series! This book has literally everything: angels/celestials, demons, werewolves/lycans, mages, elves, humans, and even a lone minotaur.

One of the things I love about fantasy is when authors create a rich world with histories, prophecies, and culture. This book really hit the mark on all those things for me.

There are several POVs, 3 of which are most prevalent: Dyna, Cassiel, and Zev. Dyna is the Chosen One, with Cassiel as the love interest and Zev as the burly cousin. I really liked the 3rd person POVs of multiple characters. We also get a POV for a character working with the villain, and a rouge sorceress who I just know I’m going to love.

While I really liked it, there were some things keeping it from hitting 5 stars for me. In the first few chapters, Dyna shot out this powerful green flame and knocked a celestial on his ass. It was E P I C. And then the entire rest of the novel she’s weak in body and mind. I really really love strong female characters, and Dyna literally feels the opposite to me. This series is called “Guardians of the Maiden,” because Dyna - the maiden - needs six people (all presumably MEN btw with the exception of the aforementioned sorceress) to protect her. Please make it stop :’(

Anyway, I would also consider this a high fantasy with romance because the romance is totally subplot. If you’re looking for straight up romantasy, this is not it.

Regardless, we got a cute little twist that I loved between the fmc and mmc that I’m interested to see where it goes.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weeks later and I am still thinking about Divine Blood! I’ll be honest, I went in completely blind with this one because @bookish_snippets and @bookishelflife raved about it so often! I generally enjoy the same books so I took a leap of faith with this one and was not let down in the slightest!

If you like:
-dark and tortured/broody celestials
-realistic and relatable MC’s (stupid humans)
-slow burn 🔥
-magic thats bursting at the seams
-multiple POV’s
-reluctant bromances

THIS IS FOR YOU. On top of everything listed, Beck Michaels is incredible with her world building. I felt truly immersed in the story and with each of the characters. I was worried early on that so many POV’s might be frustrating but I really enjoyed it and it really helped the story! Bonded Fate doesn’t release until August but if you start now you’ll have time to reread it a few times between now and then! Also be prepared to pick up a new book boyfriend.. or two. 😘
•
Thank you to @beckmichaels_writes for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I was so confident I would love this book that I bought the hardcover the day I received the copy from her! 😍

[Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ++++ Stars

OMG...I found another "top read of 2021" - This book was FANTASTIC and I was reminded of a LOTR but with a female protagonist. All of these different mystical figures coming together and the quest that our kind-hearted Dyna has put together.

I absolutely LOVED these characters and Dyna's interactions with her "guardians" .... and don't get me started on the brooding, Cassiel! I'm itching for the next book in the series so I can find out more about the two of them...and will Zev get some "love interest" And even the second secondary characters, Von and Yavi, I want more of them and find out if they can be saved by the "good side".

August is too far away and I want the next book in the series ASAP!! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

[nora⁷ · Rating 4 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I received an ebook ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

MY SCORES
Plot: 3.5/5
Writing: 4/5
Theme & message: 4.5/5
Characters: 4/5

OVERALL SCORES: 4.0/5
Mood while reading: These characters are making all of these dumb decisions but I love them anyways

"The moment your life is in danger, there are only two choices to make: you fight or you die. I have prepared you for both, but I'll tell you one thing - dying is easy."

MY REVIEW
Divine Blood is the debut and first instalment in the epic fantasy series Guardians of the Maiden by Beck Michaels.

In Divine Blood, we meet our first main protagonist, Dyna. She's on a quest to a mysterious island to find a magical artefact in order to defeat the Shadow Monster, a being who took nearly everything from her. On her perilous journey, she teams up with her cousin Zev and celestial Cassiel, and shit's about to go real.

- PLOT -
To be honest, it was hard to get through the first half of the book. We were introduced to our main trio, but it took a while. At some point, I even fell asleep (that's probably due to my wrecked sleep schedule). Shortly said, the start was slow. But we did get a lot of vital information and depth to the characters, so it was alright.

The last half, however, was much better. I literally couldn't stop reading! It had a lot of action and we got to see our characters in different settings. The pace felt better and we met more characters. I definitely loved the last half!


- WRITING -
From reading the first pages of this book, I knew this was going to be good. The writing style is easy to follow, and I didn't have any issues reading it. I myself don't like super descriptive writing like in ACOTAR, and I'm glad the author strayed away from that. The pacing was a bit slow in the start but improved halfway into the book.

The world-building was absolutely amazing! The author crafted an intricate and complex world which I look forward to getting to know better. We're introduced to many magical people like celestials, elves, werewolves, magos and humans. They all live on this large goblet-formed continent/land called Urn. All of the magical people have different and complex relationships with each other. The author introduced us to this world in a wonderful way, and I can't wait to learn more about it.

This story must have been influenced or inspired by The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black, as I saw some similarities. However, this book didn't have the edginess like Holly Black, therefore making it seem like a mix between The Folk of the Air/Throne of Glass/Lord of the Rings.

(It is possible that the different magical peoples can give connotations to races of our world today. It was not offensive to me, but there can be some sensitive topics for some. Like going against their belief and customs in order to save someone.)

There were also some highlights of her writing, like:

"The hourglass of their time together had been turned over. Tiny grains of moments like these spilt toward the day he would have to say goodbye."

"Possibility is limited by perception. May it not be limited by our belief, but by our imagination."

"He was starlight, and wonder, and questions without answers. But she was willing to wait to uncover them."

- THEMES & MESSAGE -
As we follow our protagonists through their journey, we learn about trust and courage. It explores the depths of loss and self-worth. The characters go through many internal and external challenges. By believing in trust and companionship, they overcome these issues.

Moreover, the characters face the pain of loss and self-awareness. It's the characteristic YA trope of finding themselves and becoming true to themselves. In order to find their identity, they must lose something as they also gain something. In the end, they find the true meanings of what courage and goodness really are.


- CHARACTERS -

DYNA
I will be honest, I didn't really like Dyna that much. At first, she really annoyed me, and I couldn't relate to her at all. Absolutely everything she did was causing a lot of trouble. Her guardians had to save her all the time. She basically made a whole bunch of terrible and dumb decisions. She was basically the definition of "she's not like other girls".

However, I had to admire her for her goodness and kind heart. It felt highly unrealistic to be so kind, but I mean, I'm glad there are some good people out there I guess. Her kindness did fit with her characteristics of being an Essence Healer, where here job is basically to help other people. At least I warmed up to her by the end.

She's really naïve, innocent and too trusting. This definitely leaves a lot of room for the development of her character, and I'm intrigued to know what she will do when she faces a difficult problem.


CASSIEL
Agh, Cassiel. The Rhysand copy- woops. There was definitely a striking resemblance between Cassiel and Rhysand, as they're both half-breeds and both are mated or bonded idk with the main female protagonist. Oh well.

However, I feel Cassiel seemed a lot more realistic. He had his own character arc and problems. He's insecure and feels like he doesn't deserve love due to his lineage. He went through a lot of abuse and had issues finding where he belonged.

Cassiel definitely had a lot of depth and room for character development. I'm definitely interested in how he will change in the next instalments in this series after THAT SCENE in this book. And chapter 27, oh wow. I couldn't help but laugh.


ZEV
I want to protect this cinnamon roll with everything I have. Zev has been through so much and doesn't deserve all of the pain agh! He's definitely my favourite character.

He has been through so much, and I just feel like he deserves the world. He has these internal challenges and demons which he fights all the time. Even though he's hurting, he still finds himself helping and caring about his family. Zev is hated by so many people in this book due to prejudice, and I just want to punch all of these people who call him a vicious monster. Agh I love him so much.


VON
It was quite intriguing to read the story from different perspectives, and definitely from Von's perspective. I am a big fan of morally grey characters, and Von definitely belongs in the grey zone. His POV gave the story more depth and kept me interested. I can't wait to read his way to redemption!


OTHERS
All of the other side characters also played a part in the main story, and I'm excited to get to know more of them. It's interesting to see how the author will write the next characters and their own journey.


- CONCLUSION -
Overall, this book exceeded my expectations! Divine Blood is a promising introduction to this new series, and I can't wait to read the next instalments. I recommend this book to fans of Holly Black, Sarah J Maas and J.R.R Tolkien.

Over and out. -Nora <3

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook Review
Rating:
Plot: 5/⭐
Mystery: 5/⭐
Adventure: 3.5/⭐
Characters: 4/⭐
Writing: 3/⭐
*************************************
Over-all rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Favourite Scene:

Her stomach dropped at the reminder. Both times Cassiel had flown with her were out of necessity. He had deliberately avoided her whenever possible, but now he offered of his own will to carry her? The thought of being that close to him, of embracing him all night, sent an unexplainable feeling through her. “It’s quite high,” she squeaked.

Review:
My first audiobook...
Wow, the voice acting, plot, and multiple POV are so incredible. The mystery and plot within this book is mind-blowing, I love how everything that happens in the book later on has a deeper connection of how the book unfolds. I have never read a book where I love the epilogue more than the other chapters in the book, its a great cliffhanger for the next book.

*************************************
Genre:
High Fantasy | Young Adult | Paranormal | Angels |
Werewolves | Magic | Fantasy Romance

Tropes:
Stuck together | Quest | Opposite Sides | Slow Burn |
Multiple POV | Bromance
*************************************
Would I re-read this book? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Definitely
Would I read more books by this author? Yes

[Gamar ❤]

Adding this one for the loml Lila <3

[Darcey · Rating 4 out of 5]

buddy read with Kendra!

ooo this was so good!! super entertaining and addictive, i thought Divine Blood was such an enjoyable read, and i really liked being able to read the book from different perspectives. the gang is shaping up to be such a cute found family... can't wait to continue the series and see who gets added to the team! i'm also loving the slow-yet-inevitable romance between Cass and Dyna, they're adorable, precious children and they much be protected.

such a fun read! thanks to Kendra for making me finally read this :).

[Lia Carstairs · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was... alright. tbh im pretty disappointed after having been excited for this book for awhile but a lot of this dragged out--especially during the 2nd half.

dyne is so naïve to the point where it's annoying😭 like WHY would you try saving the very people who literally just tried kidnapping you and hurt your own comrades??? im confusion. there's being kind and then just being stupid.

also i dont feel anything towards the love interest, cassiel, at all. he's just... there.

not sure if or when i'll be reading the next book, but im sad this wasn't as good as i hoped it would be.

[Alexiani G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update 07/10/22

I love this book, this, characters, this world, this story and all it has even more now!! I will be putting some more quotes here later🤍
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Books like this make me want to have the whole series in my hands, I don’t know what’s better, wishing this was a duology, wanting to have all the books in my hands or to have never read this book until all of the books were out. This is a complicated existence.

For starters, the freaking world building, THE WORLD in this book is GORGEOUS; at the beginning of the book is just this small town with some sort of curse that brings a shadow every decade to kill children, then moves to this forbidden forest that our main character Dyna has to travel through to get to her cousin Zev, there she finds a living legend to then take a journey she wasn’t expecting to have.

I was in a bad reading moment, I had spent three days without reading and just the prologue of this book made me come back with everything I have. This book is wonderful, the set-up is perfect, and from then on the book moves at a rapid pace, a mean, even though the chapters were short the book still delivered a lot of information, enough to make me love the book more and more. I really don’t know how this book is not more famous or something. There was very small thing that bother me but it fits with the plot of the book and characters, it can actually be overlooked, it may bother some people too much, but again, it was just a passing thought to me.

Moving on, what little information about the story of every nation is revealed here is amazing, I loved it and I WANT to know more about the rest of them and more to add to what I already have. The amount of species this book has is to die for, I LOVED how every few pages the world got better and better, the same with the plot, it started simple and then got a whole lot bigger. Another surprising and wonderful thing about this book is the different POVs we get. I thought the whole book was going to be narrated through Dyna’s POV but surprise surprise, I got Cassiel, Zev and more –I don’t want to say who so you can feel the emotion while reading the book- NONE of the characters are dull or boring, they are interesting in their own way, I could think something of a character and then be shocked into a different reality, the story of each character is magnificent and yes I just used that word. There is SO MUCH to know about them that I’ll probably starve before I get more, I’ll definitely reread this book to satisfy my hunger for more until I get the second book.

As I said, the story of the characters is amazing, I read a lot here about them and it made me love them, I know there is WAY MORE to know about them and the ones to come and that makes me super happy. I was happy, sad, in love, I laughed, felt bad and wanted to punch some characters for being complete idiots, which added a lot to the experience of reading this book. On the other hand we have the relationship between the characters, which is WONDERFUL, Dyna is such a happy soul, no matter what has happened to her she shines for everyone around her, her relationship with Zev is beautiful –it reminds me of my relationship with a cousin of mine, he is like a brother to me and I loved seeing that here in the book- Cassiel is a difficult Celestial to deal with but between Zev and Dyna I know he is going to know what a family really is. I LOVED DYNA AND CASSIEL, even though they just met and they have spent little time with each other, the writer found a way to make it wonderful and not too pushy, the relationship is natural and smooth, and I love them!!!!!!

“She is a living calamity, that one. It is no wonder humans don’t live long.”

While he became lost there, he thought he might find himself there too.

As if Dyna was meant to be his all along.

“That is not what I see. I see a grumpy, ludicrous Celestial who is musically talented, intelligent, and unique. Someone courteous when he cares to be, even if it makes him uncomfortable.” Dyna laughed when he cringed. She leaned forward on her knees and took his face in her hands. “I see someone who is trying to find his place in the world when he’s been convinced he doesn’t have one. Someone who is so much more than he believes. I see you, Cassiel.”

Those are just a few parts I loved about them; of course their relationship is not the only one that makes this book awesome, as I said the smoothness of this –not just Zev, Dyna and Cassiel- but the rest of the characters makes the book the best, easy to read and love.

Another thing I loved about this book is the mystery around the nations, the world, the story of the characters’ ancestors, the magic, the bonds and more –no spoilers here-. I love when I’m reading something new and I don’t feel left out of the story, when is not necessary for the characters to be forced to tell something out of necessity for me, I like when it happens smoothly and it fits the narration of the book.

The only thing I didn’t like was how –at times- Dyna seemed… not stupid but too naïve, again, this fits how she was raced and how she has seen the world all of her life so is not bothering to live that through her, it only bother me like two or three times, I felt the need to add that but to be honest that doesn’t affect the book and it doesn’t make Dyna less interesting or amazing.

Overall, I LOVED this book and I want more people to read it, can’t wait for the second one and I’m preparing myself to suffer for more years until all of the books are out I’m crying and laughing at the same time right now

[Veronica ☽◯☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐

“Possibility is limited by perception,” he said thoughtfully as though the thought was a new revelation.
“May it not be limited by our belief,” was her reply as she admired the divine creation of him. “But by our imagination.”

“He was starlight, and wonder, and questions without answers.”

I don't remember how I came across this book, I believe I found it by accident on Goodreads and I'm so glad I did!
𝓓𝓲𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓑𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓭 was a strong start to this series. I kept debating between 4 and 5 stars, but 4 felt too low, so ultimately decided to round it up.

I definitely got LOTR & TOG vibes from this.
There is a lot going on in this story, and there are a lot of characters and creatures, and this comes from someone who did not struggle keeping up with Throne of Glass.
Don't get me wrong though, I didn't find myself confused or struggling, the author does an awesome job preventing that from happening, but it can feel overwhelming sometimes 😆

I really liked the main characters - Dyna may be 18 yo but she's just a little cinnamon roll who reminded me so much of Ansel from S&D that it just made my heart hurt 😭
I loved what Zev is and his relationship with Dyna (and I'm just gonna put this right here - I really want Zev and Lucenna together) and Cassiel is.. there's so much I can say about him 😆 he's so young and already so hurt that his grumpiness is understandable but he really needs to learn to trust people and open up because I'm gonna slap him if he keeps calling Dyna "stupid human" 😂
As my friend said ( Emily I'm looking at you) Cas and Dyna are "romantic potatoes" (they both have 0 experience when it comes to relationships) which is so refreshing and yet infuriating at times 😂 (just want them to kiss, okay?)
Still haven't decided how I feel about Von, and Lucenna I love with passion. Ohmygods, I think I can easily read a whole book about her, she's my type of character, just such a badass.

I can't wait to see the character development (especially Dyna's because she has SO much potential and right now she's just like this adorable, inexperienced cinnamon roll we all wanna protect) and where this adventure will take them!! If you love dark high fantasy and complicated characters you'll probably love this series!!

[Al *the semi serial series skipper* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book albeit long and slow. I enjoyed reading the various POVs from the characters as they went on their journey. I hope in the next book the heroine loses some of her naiveté because it seems there are forces after her and she still has her forgiving attitude. I want to see more spunk from her.

The introduction to each guardian was nice. Can't wait to see the rest of them. Hopefully the romance between Dynla and Cassiel progress as well.