I enjoy the magic system and the romance subplot in this book, I found it really really refreshing and unique that this story take place in a desert, and that there are multiple clans. The trial was fun to read, however, because there weren't a lot of stakes as no one is allow to kill anyone, so I wasn't fully in, The Viper was my favorite character, a broken guy that run from his identity, hiding behind a mask, but is undeniably a good person underneath all of it. I found his love for Keera to be sweet and tender, I also like Keera, surviving 10 years in the desert alone is a huge feat. It was great seeing how it takes time for Keera to get use to the presence of people being kind to her, emphasize how deep her isolation run. The romance was slow, but I would prefer more emotional connection, even though it's sweet, I didn't buy into the chemistry between them.

‘Blood of the Sands’ is an immersive journey into the wild and brutal Ballan Desert – a setting as unforgiving as it is captivating.

From the very first chapter, I was hooked. S.C. Grayson’s writing is beautiful and engaging, balancing rich descriptions of the desert and its people with a well-paced plot. The world-building is fantastic. I found it to be detailed without ever feeling heavy. The book is filled with political intrigue, secrets, and memorable characters.

There’s plenty of action, from tense, high-stakes fight scenes to the sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance that adds an extra layer of tension. The character dynamics felt authentic, and I especially enjoyed the way relationships evolved alongside the main storyline. Every scene, whether quiet and emotional or sharp and action-packed, felt purposeful and well-earned.

This is a strong and exciting start to the series, and I’m very much looking forward to continuing with book two, ‘Crown of the Dunes’.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5⭐

This was a tough one to rate—loved the concept, struggled with the pacing.

The opening felt slow, with a heavy focus on individual character development for both leads. I understand why it was necessary for the plot, but until about the 60% mark, I found it hard to stay engaged.

That said, the worldbuilding is fascinating. Magic drawn from the desert felt fresh and unlike anything I’ve read before. The characters are layered—Keera is a strong, capable FMC who can hold her own, and the Viper is guarded, masked, and deliciously morally grey. The plot leans heavily on trials, training, and politics, which I enjoyed.

My main critique remains the uneven pacing. The story would linger in descriptive passages and inner monologues, then suddenly lurch forward. Adding to this, before the midpoint, the FMC and MMC had only shared one or two scenes, which meant their relationship development was crammed into the last 200ish pages—making it feel a bit forced at times.

Still, the book ends on a big cliffhanger, and I’m curious to see where the series goes from here.

I don't know what it is about my taste in books lately but I have been devouring romantasy books as of late, and Blood of the Sands helped scratch my itch for the genre. My favorite trope is definitely slow-burn enemies-to-lovers; S.C. Grayson delivered AND MORE, as well as created an interesting and intriguing world and magic system. I'm giving four stars instead of five because, personally, I had a hard time getting into the story, but once I did, I DID.

Definitely keep an eye out for this one in the coming weeks!

I loved this one, it was incredibly unique with the setting but also fit a familiar formula that made it an easy read. Adored the romance.

Oh my gosh I am obsessed!!! You know that feeling when a book just clicks with you? That was me with this one. From the moment I stepped into its blistering desert world, I was hooked - danger in the dunes, magic in the air, and a romance ever growing, yes please to all.

Keera is no perfect fantasy heroine, and thank the book gods for that. She’s tough, flawed, and just trying to survive, which makes her connection with the MMC feel so much more real. Their enemies-to-lovers arc actually earns the “lovers” part — no insta-love, no melodramatic tantrums, just two people slowly lowering their walls. And yes, there’s spice, but it blends seamlessly into their relationship instead of taking it over.

The Ballan Desert itself is practically a character - scorching, dangerous, and crawling with monsters, both human and otherwise. There’s magic, clan rivalries, and trials that will have you holding your breath. The found family element melted my heart, and the moral grey areas kept me wonderfully conflicted about who I wanted to root for.

Sure, I spotted a few twists early, but the ride was so engaging I didn’t care. The pacing balanced action, world building, and romance perfectly, and the ending gave me just enough setup for book two without throwing me off a cliff.

This is a must-read for fantasy romance fans who want grit, heart, and heat, all wrapped in a world that begs you to get lost in it.

I can't wait to read the next book!!

Thank you to Net Galley, Victory Editing, and S.C. Grayson!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved it so much! Everything! I am obsessed and so ready to dive into book 2.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Co. for providing me with this eARC. I stumbled across it and thought I *might* enjoy it BUT it far surpassed my expectations and left me on edge for the next book. Lets just say, I am glad I read it now and not at the initial publishing date, as the wait for the sequel would have been so frustrating 😅

This book is for you, if you love:
✨️ An actual enemies-to-lovers (truly, you have to wait until around 75% before anything changes)
✨️ A unique magic system which places connection to (a sentient) nature as a source of power, who also needs healing
✨️ Strong yet imperfect main characters, who still show growth throughout the story
✨️ Side characters, who are interesting enough that I wouldn't oppose reading further exploration of their history or POV's
✨️ A cliffhanger that isn't too extreme but still leaves you wanting more

I loved that the relationship development felt more realistic. In many books, the MCs seem to immediately give into their desires and become very emotionally vulnerable, even though they are sworn enemies; this book is not one of those. AND, when they finally became intimate, I didn't find myself cringing or feeling it was cheesey. The author really nailed the romantasy tropes whilst maintaining a truly great and realistic story (well, as realistic as fantasy can be... ).

I also appreciated that the author used a completely different magic system to others in this genre. It felt more balanced than other books I have read, where, overall, the stories seem largely similar and everything seems to come second to the romance plot.

I am eager to read the sequel and hope I can secure an ARC for that one too, so I don't have to wait as long! The ending left me questioning who and what I can trust, and I am excited to get answers. I am hoping that the author continues to develop the world and magic system further, also with more background on other characters.

The overall story is unique with its desert magic, exiled protagonist, and a suffering young man struggling to keep his sanity. I am a sucker for a tortured hero full of angst. There are juxtapositions between the presumed “safe” walls of Keldavan and the clans trying to appease the desert and its monsters that cause you to question who is truly doing the “right thing.” Altogether, the plot is interesting and outside the current enemies-to-lovers romances with mafias, rich daddies, or men with bat wings. I look forward to seeing more of the villain in book two.

The writing was good but the plot line seemed to be broken into sections and at times were not coherent; as if we were just moving through one scene to the next that were pressed together.

Writing felt a bit choppy and in parts all over the place, however I did enjoy the story and it was quite interesting, not sure if I’ll be continuing the series though.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
From the moment I read the opening, I was completely swept into the scorching, magic-filled sands of the Ballan Desert. This is the kind of fantasy romance that gives you everything—high stakes, morally gray characters, and a slow-burn romance that simmers hotter than the desert sun.

Keera is a fierce and desperate exile, doing whatever it takes to survive. When she crosses paths with the feared Viper, a masked warlord whose power could topple kingdoms, everything changes. Their first encounter crackles with tension, and the magic that sparks between them is as dangerous as it is alluring.

I loved the dual perspectives—it’s impossible not to feel for both Keera, searching for a home in a world that’s cast her aside, and the Viper, struggling to control the magic that threatens to consume him. Their push-and-pull is perfectly paced, filled with stolen moments, biting banter, and a deep undercurrent of yearning.

The desert setting is vivid and alive, the political stakes are sharp, and the romance is the kind that makes you ache in the best way. If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers, morally gray heroes, and magic woven into every page, this is a must-read.

4.5 stars

Review for NetGalley – May include spoilers.

First off let me say how refreshing this book was to read. Not only were the characters well thought out with your dark and broody Viper, who acts like nothing matters to him while struggling with his own demons, to Keera who just wants to belong somewhere and will fight at nothing to hold on to what she believes in. The storyline itself was so different to the other type of fantasy I read, having an almost Mayan feel to the way they worshiped the desert and would sacrifice people in order to feed it with the blood, elevating the magic that flows through the people touched with the deserts power, but describing it in a way that segments the belief of it being this entity that gives and it takes and it’s the job of our main character and supporting ones, to bring peace and tranquilly back to it.

Not only was the plot gripping and had me hooked from start to finish, but the descriptive writing and the way the author made you feel like you were in the story had to be my favourite thing. Everything about this story had its purpose and not one thing was overshadowed by the rest. Did it deliver on the slow burn romance? Yes, it was beautiful, and it developed natural, even the little relationships that the other characters had was perfectly done. Did it deliver on a high stakes tournament to see who would come out on top as champion of the desert? Yes, it was done in such a way that again, there was a story building around it and it didn’t become the focal point, even though it was integral to the plot. It was dual pov which I’m a sucker for as you really get a feel for what each of the main characters are feeling and in my eyes a slow burn romance goes hand in hand with dual pov, when its enemies seeing how the opinions change is crucial to an organic build, watching the torment of feelings happening when they know they shouldn’t think of the other in any way other than disgust, when done right, can be a make or break of an otherwise great story..
Though marketed as a Dark Romance, I would say it was defiantly on the more timid side of what I was I was expecting, however it could be tagged as that because of the death, gore and manipulation of that characters laced within that tags it as being dark. There was a healthy level of spice that wasn’t thrown in your face or over powering as some spice can be, it was natural and purposeful.

I personally loved this book and I can’t wait for Crown of the Dunes that comes out in a few weeks. I would also love to see a prequel of the series, from when the clans broke apart and the great city was formed, though not vital for the understanding of the history, it would just be an interesting book for myself.

this was 3.5 stars. if you like world building slow burn and plt drivein story with with romance sert in the desert this is for your. i love a book where you kinda like the villain and hope the villain really isnt the villain. i cant wait to read book to see what te story has in store/

I found it really hard to put down once it got past the half way mark! At first I was up and down with how I was finding the book; there’s brilliant world-building (but still needs some fleshing out), interesting political intrigue and a unique magic system with the ‘Ballan Desert’.
I’d seen online that this had Reylo vibes so was really interested to pick it up!
This book was sometimes really predictable, but I didn’t mind that so much as there was still a lot of great imagination and that slow burn??? Delicious.

Recommendation: 🌕🌕🌕🌕 - (Out of 5 🌕)

Genre: Fiction, Science-Fiction, Romance, Fantasy

Length: 415 Pages

Pace: Medium

Moods: Romantic, Adventurous, Page-turner, Great World Building, Entertaining, Action-Packed, Easy To Read

S.C. Grayson has created a unique world filled with sand, sun, and nomadic tribes. The main female character, Keera is endearing and easily likable. Having overcome hardships to survive her teenage years, her moral and ethical values prevent her from doing harm, even against her enemies. For someone who has earned the right to be bitter about the bad cards life has dealt her, Keera takes things in stride and does her best to move forward with where life takes her. Unlike Keera, the main male character, Viper lives life with a big a chip on his shoulder. He is your typical steamy, sexy and hot villain. Viper has his moments of potential redemption interspersed with self-serving deeds.

Synopsis:

Keera has lived in exile for the past decade. Her clan forced her out into the Ballan desert when she was fifteen. Normally, that would be considered a death sentence. She quickly learned to survive and get by on her own, mostly by theiving from those passing by her oasis. Upon one such attempt to steal food and water, she finds herself face to face with a mask wearing warrior named Viper. After escaping sure death at Viper's hands not once but twice, Keera finds herself in the beautiful city of Kelvadan. Keera is urged by Kelvadan's Queen to participate in the upcoming Trials in which the winner will be crowned the Champion of the Desert. Losing these warrior games could have dire consequences for all those that inhabit the Ballan desert.

Magic. Bonds. Commitments. Opposition. It all swirls together as two enemies find themselves connecting over a common goal but at the same time, continually finding themselves on opposing sides. The journey that Keera and the Viper take is full of twists and turns, and I can’t wait to find out where this story takes them!

This book completely blew me away! It starts off slow, but the payoff is absolutely worth it. The rich depth of Keera’s character and the vast, mystical presence of the desert pulled me in—and didn’t let go.

From the beginning, you’re immersed in the culture of the desert clans, where survival is everything. The world-building is so textured and immersive, you can practically feel the heat of the sand and the weight of every choice Keera makes.

I love Keera—she's intense, fiery, and unapologetically strong. She knows when to hold back and when to strike with everything she's got. Her instincts and powers feel so aligned with who she is that, even though she's still learning to control them, you trust her. And just like the desert, her power demands respect.

And the romance? Don’t even get me started. The reluctant, slow-burn relationship between Keera and the Viper was absolutely delicious. Every moment of tension, every stolen glance—it left me aching for more. When it finally hits, it hits so damn good. The writer really knows how to build that yearning.

Don’t sleep on this book—it’s already shaping up to be one of my most anticipated series of the year.

Tropes:

- Enemies to lovers
- Suppressed powers
- Powerful & badass FMC
- Masked, morally grey MMC
- Trials
- Slow burn romance
- Soul/magic bonded

In Blood of the Sands, Keera is exiled from her clan, and is surviving in the desert on her own by the skin of her teeth. When a lone man visits the oasis she is staying at, she attempts to steal from him, only to be kidnapped by the Viper, who is known for stabbing first and asking questions later.

I enjoyed reading this romantasy. You could see the plot twists and big reveals coming from a mile away, but that did not make this book any less enjoyable. I found the magic system intriguing. The magic in this book is given by the desert, but it seems there is no clear way or shape this magic takes form. In the book it was demonstrated in the forms of healing, elemental, mental, animal connection, and sensing others with magic.

I had a great time reading this book and would suggest you to give it a chance!

You will enjoy Blood of the Sands if you like:
🗡️Trials
🫦Enemies to lovers to …?
⚔️Warrior training
✨Magic granted by the desert
👑Secret Heirs
“Who did this to you?”

This fantasy is enthralling! Keera was abandoned by her clan and spent many years in the desert alone. Barely surviving on scarce bits of food and water she can find. Everything changes when The Viper finds her. Initially planning on killing her, because she had seen him without his mask, but he instead decides to give her to his clan as a sacrifice. This book is fast paced! I could not put it down!

This was a very unique read! We follow Keera, a girl who has been struggling to survive ever since being exiled by her clan to the Ballan desert. Unfortunately she chooses to steal from the wrong person, a masked warrior named Viper who possesses deadly magic and whose main purpose is to serve and heal the Ballan desert (which seems to be sentient). When Viper goes to punish Keera, her dormant magic awakens and allows her to escape. Viper and Keera end up on opposites sides of a war with the ultimate goal being to save the Ballan desert. The book features trials, a sentient and deadly desert, unique magic systems, warring factions, betrayal, and plot reveals.

I would say this is a slower paced book with first half of the story doing a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of setup of the world, introducing the sentient desert and magic system, and the main conflict. The plot really getting going at the 50% mark when we have Keera and Viper meeting up again. I think at some points the pacing was a bit too slow and I wished we got to the main plot about 40 pages earlier instead of halfway through the book. I enjoyed Viper as a character and seeing him struggle and have to choose between his loyalty to the man who “saved” him and Keera. I think Keera was a good FMC and am interested to learn more about how she managed to be such a good fighter and pick up certain things so quickly and why she also possesses this desert magic. I enjoyed the romance between Keera and the Viper (especially the aspect of their connection in the dream state). The ending didn’t really end on a cliffhanger but sets up the next book quite well. Overall if you enjoy a unique romantasy based in a desert setting featuring deadly trials, political intrigue, unique magic systems, and enemies to lovers you will enjoy this book!