Blinded

by Kaye Draper

I’ve spent my whole life being used by a cult for my healing abilities, always serving the will of The Mother. Then they came, chasing rumors of a powerful healing artifact. Instead of a necklace or a charm, they found a person. So, they stole me instead.

My whole life has been a lie, and I now find myself surrounded by powerful paranorms I thought were extinct. They need me to heal their self-proclaimed “princess”—a powerful shifter who is secretly leading a rebel court that seeks to overthrow the local paranormal syndicate. My kidnappers treat me with more kindness and respect than my family has ever shown me. But can I trust anything they say? Or are they just using me too? Life with my supposed family taught me one thing; the prettier the lie, the easier it is to swallow.

The Love and Revenge series features a lost woman who is determined to find herself, and the men and women who love her. It is suitable for mature audiences only. Contains poly relationships as well as straight and LGBTQ+ characters.

Genres: Omegaverse, Paranormal, Polyamory, Dragons, Fae, Romance, Shapeshifters

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2022

About the author

Sometimes our greatest strengths come from our deepest challenges. I write magic and romance, starring a cast of creatures with feathers, fins, and teeth. My books include paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and fantasy romance--with the occasional steampunk or alien story thrown in just for kicks. My pan heart firmly believes love is love, so you'll see straight, LGBTQIA, monogamous, reverse harem, and poly relationships in my work. My favorite theme is overcoming our inner demons and the insecurities that hold us back.
I also advocate for self-development and mental health and dabble in non-fiction as time allows. I love the outdoors and still hope to be abducted by fae! (I may have more in common with my characters than I care to admit.)

I love to hear from readers!

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Reviews

[Cas ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. Wow!! Let’s tick off some of the biggest appeals, imo.

✔️ Unusual shifters
✔️ Monsters/Boogeymen
✔️ Witches, Demons, & Dragons… oh my!
✔️ Polyamorous relationships
✔️ CONSENT, both sought out and given as well as explained
✔️ LGBTQIA+ characters
✔️ Disability Representation, done well! (FMC is blind)
✔️ Unique take on omegaverse

There’s SO much to like, honestly. And the writing is phenomenal. I really enjoyed the transition from kind of this stuffy, medieval feel in the beginning to this much more casual, modern dialogue and narration when the setting changes. I adored the characters, they’re all unique (no cookie cutters!) and they all have a depth to them. I also loved that despite her horrible start to life in captivity, being used for her gift and kept weak and dependent on her captors, as well her complete lack of knowledge, the FMC is strong, kind, compassionate, and grows into her confidence as she learns and is given space to just… be!

The relationships feel organic even though it’s a bit of forced proximity (and the whole omegaverse aspect) and I love that they all treat her with respect. They allow her to make her own choices, connections, and encourage her to explore and ask questions and support her in ways that I wish were in more stories. I also love that she doesn’t just fall into their laps, there’s no instalove or instalust. She questions their motives, her situation, if she is being used again; she keeps her newfound agency, which is important to me. She wasn’t whisked off from one captor to another (although, kinda yeah lol) where she’s traded on evil for another. Sure the court may be morally grey, and sure they’re definitely criminals… but they treat her like a person.

I also nearly wept with joy from the way they handled certain things (trying to do this without spoilers, agh) that over authors either mishandle or just flat out won’t touch, such as transgender characters. In the other books I’ve read Kaye Draper, they’ve always handled gender so effortlessly and beautifully I shouldn’t have expected anything less but it just meant a lot to see it handled the way it was not once but twice.

My only complaint is that it ended on a cliffhanger and I’m desperate to read more!! 😅

[SnooRegrets]

So, I won‘t rate this because, since going into it, I didn‘t know it would contain the omega/alpha breeding trope. Which I have come to hate with a passion. If I had known about it beforehand, I most probably would not have picked it up. It was shortly mentioned in the CW, which I never read, because I don‘t have triggers, I just have tropes I don‘t like.

The first half was fun and interesting, but at 50 % I got surprised with the fact that our FMC is an omega and I was not impressed. I could have enjoyed this way more without all the „in heat“, „breedings“, „no choices“ and all that shit around the trope, no matter that it was a little „reimagined“, like the author stated in the CWs. It was not reimagined enough for me to enjoy reading about that stuff. It just isn‘t for me.

[Mel B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good and bad start…

So the good: the plot line is well developed, the characters are unique and interesting and you.cant help but love the FMC, Ruya.

The cons, other than Martina, it takes you a while to really connect/and or really like Ruya’s potential harem. Yes Sanka is google towards her…but it’s made clear that Robin is his FIRST PRIORITY, in fact, they all make it clear that Robin is their first priority (especially Yukio). It doesn’t matter if that’s not how they really feel, or if they’re really beginning to feel things for her as a person…because they continue literally to the end of book one to make it clear to Ru, to infer to her that she’s still JUST ANOTHER USEFUL TOOL, making her feel that she’ means just as little (since she as a person isn’te valued just her abilities) to them as she did to The Mother and her Order.

Ru is so perfectly written that you can help but feel deeply for her, AND COME TO LOVE HER CHARACTER! You want the best for her, and although you know she’ll end up with Robin and Robins court, by the end of book one you can honestly feel as if that would be 100% the right thing by the way they think about her, treat her, or “use her.” Sure you’re told their gruffness and meanness is just a defense mechanism but they never make that 100% clear, PLUS you have the almighty Robin who EVERYONE ADORES, even Ru, when honestly Robin should be the one scoring and being put 2nd to Ru, Ru holds power and abilities that no one has seen or can match! Robin’s “treatment” the whole, I won’t sleep with you, I’ll give you a choice on leaving, keeping her at arms length, telling her to sleep with her Court, because she never will is BS! She literally tells her that they are a perfect compatible match (knowing Ru will suffer) only to dismiss her with a “I’ll never sleep or succumb To your Omega pheromones because I don’t need the complications you bring and I have much more important things/missions to do than get sexually involved with you.” THIS is the harem the author is trying to get us to root for? Even if they go after her (you know they will) at times at the end you almost wonder if she’d find a better harem amongst her next band of kidnappers.

I really liked the story, and I liked all the characters to an extent, I just though Ru deserved so much, she’s truly a good pure soul, and she’s been lied to abused and manipulated ALL HER LIFE! Only to find her matched, who yeah, “help her” through her first heat, but don’t make it clear to her that she matters AS A PERSON! And honestly I could seriously do without Robin or Yukio at the point (unless they grovel majorly in the future). Yukio’s craftily way to tell her that he might give a sh*t about her is to bake sweets for her, seriously?!! But to make nasty snide cruel comments to her and treat her like dirt to her face is just ridiculous!! And Robins actions are enough to scar poor Ru and give her whiplash. Robin goes about “sexing her up,” but continuously makes it clear that not only is she not going to sleep with her, she only needs to stay with them because having a healer would be useful!!! She’s breaking Ru’s heart and self confidence. I liked Dushek but I still didn’t like that although all his scenes had him in Ru’s presence he was STILL STUCK ON ROBIN OBSESSIVELY . GOING ON IN HIS HESD ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL ROBIN IS ETC. And the others don’t help by telling Ru he has a crush on Robin, or making it clear that this series which is Ru’s series, comes off more as if it’s Robin’s series. That was unpleasant, especially since you can’t help but love Ru, and want the attention for once in her dang life, to BE FULLY ON HER Goodbess knows she needs and deserves it!!

In conclusion, I was very disappointed by Ru’s potential harem members (especially Robin and Yukio, heck for being so smart and a great leader, Robin sure comes off as petulant and stupid) and Yukio is just an a-hole who continuously showers Robin with his love and adoration, yes, yes, they’ve been lovers a long time, but doing so in front of Ru and saying mean things to her, after ALL OF HER WORK FOR THEM, self sacrificing her own health for them, is just really sucky behavior and makes me want to scratch his eyes out the entire way through to the end of book one.

I’ll read book 2, but honestly is the harem doesn’t shake the f*ck up and start to treat Ru.better with more consideration and empathy, oh and doesn’t grovel, I think I’ll be done with this particular series, no matter how well it’s written and how much I love our mysterious little healer, Ru.

[TheVelvetHammer · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @76%

This is what happens when you don't bother storyboarding or keeping tabs on what details have already been included or what's actually been voiced out loud vs included in [another] lengthy internal monologue info dump.

The story was incredibly sloppy - it felt almost like the author was just making it up as she went along...which, sure, one might think that's how you write a book, but it's absolutely tf not. Not even close. Here, she'd provide a detail about a character, then seem to almost realize after the fact that she should, perhaps, explain why that detail is plausible, then hastily drum up some explanation.

In fact, I knew a gal that was a compulsive liar, but if you would try to call her on a lie she'd double down and make the lie even more elaborate. The more she talked, the more unbelievable everything would become, to the point where she would begin to forget the facts of her own tall tale. That's what this book feels like.

"Why does the naive blind gal have knowledge of something that she absolutely should not as an extremely sequestered prisoner in a pocket world?"

"OH! Um that's because she had this... uh...crazy aunt! Yeah, an aunt that snuck her things. Oh, and a mouse! A mouse who was incredibly well-traveled and world-wise and told Ruya a bunch about life outside... but not that she's in a pocket world."

"What? A mouse? She can talk to animals?"

"Yeah, she can talk to animals... OH!, but she doesn't remember that she can talk to animals, because this was a long time ago and The Mother found out about the mouse and killed it... um... in a snap trap. Yeah. A plain old snap trap took out the well-traveled mouse that mysteriously found its way into a pocket world, hoofed it hours and hours from the entrance and into a warded Rapunzel tower. And then The Mother told Ruya she can't actually talk to animals, it was all in her head. So yeah, she doesn't think she can talk to animals."

"And she still... what? Remembers all of that from that long ago? Wasn't she a child?"

*insert further elaborate, disjointed bullshit explanations as to why this totally makes sense*

-you get the idea-

Beyond that...

The author tries to do a bit of a magical world/ omegaverse mashup with a new twist, but instead of being a refreshing change it again is just... sloppy. It's too much. Cluttered and chaotic without anything really being given the attention it needs to provide depth and attachment to the story or characters. More doesn't mean better, it's just more.

Then there's copious inconsistencies ("I've never been out of my room"/ "I haven't been out of the room in years"), grammatical errors, formatting issues, etc.

And I'm actually disappointed because I like gender non-conforming characters. But this went from slapdash in the first half to boring filler in the second and I just couldn't stay with it.

[Chloe · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5: unironically contained the phrases "amazeballs" and "sexy fun time"

seriously tho, it was just meh despite the main character. the FMC, Ru was a lot of fun. I loved reading how she interacted with her and world world and her thoughts with every new challenge. she was tough and shy and sassy. but everyone else? BLEH! when it was the first 3 of the pack I was there, loved it. but then they added the last two and it shifted dynamics? why is Robin always the first thing anyone thinks of? fuck that alpha! why do they mistreat Ru so much? what is WRONG with these people? also the last two brought into the story??? CREEPY AND MEAN. I get that maybe part of that is the ABO dynamics (was shocked by that despite it being in the description, btw) but I don't think an abused character needs more shitty abusive people near her to heal her or whatever.

[Jessica Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review

Great read! It follows Ruya a healing witch, who had be captive most of her life by an evil cult. She is the "rescued" by a bunch of rebels. She is there to help their leader the princess. It is an emotional rollercoaster and you will love all the court members even the resident Boogeyman.


It does end on a cliffhanger but it is worth the ride till then.

My only complaint is at first I was picturing a GOT you're world with horses and whatnot. I was layered brought to Detroit. So maybe a slight more world building but otherwise fantastic read. I will be biting my nails to til the next one.

[kkissreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything!

There’s magic and paranormals, cults, packs, found family, rich world-building and character backgrounds, great banter, and open door spice!

There’s also so much steam in the book that even though I do wish for more spice, it felt true to the characters to have what we did and I loved it! I’m hoping we get more in the next books.

Using the spice scale I found on Reddit: Open Door Spice (You know what's happening and how it feels, but there's probably only a few scenes in the book) - 3/5 🌶️

The book has switching first person perspectives, mostly from our leading lady Ruya who starts out as the main character and the story focuses on her. She’s a magic healer kept locked in a tower, who was blinded literally and figuratively by her family and the cult that has her - they magically damaged her vision, and fed her lies about the real world and her place in it, to keep her dependent on them, compliant and docile.

Ruya gets caught up by a band (or court) of rebels who free her to use her healing magic, but who quickly are enamored by her and empathetic to her story, so they want to balance having her help them and also helping her get caught up on the world and the goings-on, and maybe help her fall in love and friendship with them and stay too.

There’s 3 fellas and 2 more ladies and the relationships are so fun in between them! There’s some RH, MM, FF, and all kinds of other fun combos.

There’s fast paced action, excellent relationship building, and so many fun and mature conversations that we love to see in fantasy (like consent, trauma bonding, using protection, etc.).

Learning the powers, backgrounds and personalities of the court was so engaging and rewarding! There’s still more Ruya doesn’t know but the reader knows from the other character’s perspectives. We get lots of solid friendships and steamy heat. Mmm.

The book is THICK (I say that even as a kindle reader) and well worth purchasing and the time to enjoy (currently not in KU or at my local library). There’s so much development and action and romance, and it could stand on its own if you just skip the last chapter.

If you do read the last bit, we get a cliffhanger that sets up the next book in a great way! It wasn’t a bad cliffhanger - there’s some big drama in the end of the book that isn’t the cliffhanger, so you do get relief before the drop. When the cliffhanger hits, you also know the who and the why, so it’s a gentle drop.

I’m running to the next book for more of all the goodies!! I had to leave a review because I want this book to get so much more well deserved hype!!

Oh also excellent editing and pacing!! Everything, I tell you, this book has EVERYTHING.

[AvidRomanceReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of blinded and I’m so glad I did because this book was a fantastic read.

I love books with all the love and inclusion, and we have that represented well in this book. It has amazing LGBTQIA+ characters that I absolutely adored. We also have an MC that’s blind, which I don’t get to read a lot of and found that Draper did a fantastic job.

This book starts off with Ruya, who has a gift to heal those around her through touch. In effort to save their princess, the rebel group seek Ruya out (thinking she’s an object) and steal her away…and definitely not in the typical fashion. I actually found her “kidnapping” kind of funny…I think because of the characters.

This book is well written, the plot is unique, we have some very well done tropes here that Draper got creative with, including the A/B/O dynamic. The characters are all fantastic, and have a lot of depth and originality.

I’m very excited to see where this leads next - I’ll be sitting on the edge of my seat until the next installment.

If you are looking for strong diverse characters, representation, PNR and ABO dynamics, you’ll love this book.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where to beginning with this one. The story definitely somewhat diffrent then what I'm used to reading, so that was refreshing. I liked Ru okay but I didn't love her. The super natural elements are interesting and different then the reused norm. I think I had a problem with the relationship dynamics in this one. I just didn't feel the connection with some of the characters. In all honesty the only one I wanted Ru to get with was Robin (at least first). I honestly wish we go to know more about Robin seeing as she was the leader and everybody main focus. I don’t know, I probably won't continue this series.

[Rebekah Tomkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing story and so unlike anything else I’ve read. There were so many complex themes handled with such care that this really was a joy to read. Everything natural and effortless and nothing was overdone or pushed in the readers face. It was all just part of the story.

Great characters, excellent world building and wonderful concept. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something a little different.

[Suzanne McNeill Taviner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good read, I loved the characters in this book, they were such a good team together. You really felt how much they all cared for each other. When Ruya joined the team she learnt more and more about herself and every new thing came with more confusion for her as her whole life before had been a lie. The ending was a bit of a teaser and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

[Karen Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. As a series opener it is riveting. Ruya is a powerful healer in a horrible situation. Rescue brings her into a whole new world with quite a varied bunch of people. Who knew the Boogeyman was real? This story is a finely spun tale that I couldn't put down. I received an advanced copy of this book and freely leave this honest review.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book that I have read by Kaye Draper. And what a great read. This story follows a powerful healer called Ruya who is not a good situation untill she is rescued by paranormal to help save thier princess. This book captivated me with its characters I can't wait till I get to read the second book in this series.

[Bianca M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!

Ooooo this story is so much plus some. I love the various plot threads and new creatures. This author is always super original with species. I love the little things that the author fleshed out to make an amazing book. Love it!

[Annette Yu · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading this author, really loved her character and world building!
Ruya is not all she seems to be, and I love watching her grow and find her confidence a she begins to explore the relationships she has with the other members of the pack!

[Haydee Otero · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT!!

This book was very unique in the best way! Totally different from any other “why choose”” book I’ve ever read and I’m totally here for it! Jumping into took two immediately! Kaye Draper you have a new fan in me!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured this and preordered the next!

Loved this new world and the unique central character. I’m excited to see how Kaye Draper develops the rest of this series.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

soo good!

This was a fantastic book and like all good books I never wanted it to end. I can’t wait to read more.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very excited for book 2!

I can’t wait for the rest of the series. There were parts on the verge of being too sweet, but I really did enjoy the fresh take on the reverse harem setup

[booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't really like yukio but loved the rest

[Rahsheen Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blinded

This is definitely a 5 star review! It’s so refreshing! The only thing that I don’t like is the cliffhanger!!!!!! I didn’t put it down.

[Elizabeth L Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

exciting! Unable to stop reading!

This is one of those that you recommend to stop reading. Lovable characters, excellent writing. From start to finish it has a great storyline.

[Aria Hotch · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Duke Silver's Duchess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Its rare for me to read a book with such a different world but this was a really cool set up. Excited to see where this series is headed.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️/2 🌶️—A mashup between paranormal, omegaverse, and mafia romance. I liked the main characters. The worldbuilding could have used more fleshing out, but it wasn’t detrimental to the plot.

[Cat the RH Safekeeper]

🔴 This is a poly romance, not a RH 🔴