This was a wonderfully intriguing romantasy novel and unlike anything else I’ve read. This kingdom is run by the morloks (humans) and syrens abide within the waters of the sea which is dangerously risky for sailors, and there are heaps of other magical creatures too. Aria’s people are subjugated to slavery, her family lost and she is sworn to vengeance . We have adventure, morally grey main characters, forbidden love and magic within lithes so substance based which was an interesting perspective within the story.

The book opens with a vivid description of Aria pulling herself from the sea, and I had to read it twice to make sure I understood what I was reading! I wasn’t sure what it all meant at that point although it came clear later in the story (as I tend to go in blind to a book!)

The story has such potential but some phrases, choice of vocabulary and passages I felt could be written more smoothly as it felt a little clunky to my ear. Being a British reader it maybe that American English doesn’t sit as well for me but not having read any blurb or author details beforehand I did wonder whether it was lost in translation. Some parts of the story were slow, others were rushed and the romance seemed to suddenly happen without much preamble so was a bit insta-lusty.

I always enjoy a duel point of view so the fact this book had the most varied POV I thought helped immensely. It really gave greater depth to the characters.

Overall I’d give it three stars. Intriguing premise and storyline but not quite hitting the mark with the style of writing for me.

Thankyou so much to NetGalley for the E-Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley & BeRead Ltd. for the arc!
**1 star** A new series that–surprise surprise–is sadly another copy-paste story. Same story, different font.

Posed as a damsel-in-distress, Aria stumbles upon her savior who happens to be Raask, the crown prince of the Skiernan court. Aria then infiltrates the court and seeks vengeance for the family she’s lost and the people becoming enslaved. But of course, when she believes the prince to be cruel, she finds that she’s intrigued by him, leading to an inevitable attraction. She is stuck between choosing her heart or loyalty to her people.
This was a disappointing read. The beginning started off well as I was immediately captivated but my interest quickly waned. The magic system had potential, but it was so poorly utilized that it failed to leave an impression. If I have to constantly refer to the glossary, then the author didn’t do a great job introducing the different magic functions in a way that naturally ingrains them into the story. Our characters were not that much better. We read in three povs, each of them unlikeable, unfortunately. Especially the prince–why does he act like an adolescent??

I was only 20% of the way in when I dnf’d. To be almost a quarter of the way in and not have much story progression will lose me. I recently read reviews on this book claiming that there’s not a period of info-dumping in which I agree. But in this case, we clearly needed SOMETHING. Some foundation of what world we’re reading in. From the 20% I did read, all I know is that the characters are in a castle. The clothing seemed outdated but the language was so modern? Which proves the writing, style, and tone did not fit the story. Had this been written as an urban fantasy, set in a modern city, it wouldn’t have been so jarring to read.

Alas, this is another start to a new romantasy series. This book needs a good few more sessions of scrubbing and editing because there were quite a few typos.

If you like forbidden romance, hidden identities and agenda, morally complex characters, then this book is for you!

The FMC, Aria, sets out on a plan to avenge her people that are enslaved by the king of Skierka by seducing and destroying the crown prince, Raask.

The beginning of this book has intricate world-building that sets the stage for the unique world and magical system without being overwhelming. The magical system was so unique based on minerals that have different uses and functions. This world was magical, yet dark and atmospheric with vivid descriptions that had a movie playing in my head.

This is an multi-POV book that starts off following Aria, Raask and expands to others. Aria is a strong, ruthless, and confident FMC that’s easy to fall in love. Raask was a character with so much complexity that I loved all his POV chapter. He comes off as the charismatic, easy going prince but underneath this facade is a darker side to him that few get see and he himself has yet to fully explore. Another POV we get is from Raask brother, Viggo, who is the general of the Skierkan army. At first I was unsure about his character, but as the book went on he became so interesting and multi-faceted with his own secrets and agenda. Each character has their own trauma they are working through that makes reading about them and caring about them so easy.

The relationship building and romance was done well. I was hooked on reading more about Aria and Raask developing relationship, it had me at the edge of my seat!! Their banter was great and the romance was written so well I could almost feel their chemistry.

The only real issues I had with this book was the plot pacing. At times I felt a lot was going on that didn’t seem to connect and I was left a bit confused. The plot was very twisty which I normally love, but this time it threw me for a loop as somethings felt like they just came out of the blue.

Overall, this was a good start for book 1 in a series and that cliffhanger was criminal (in a good way!).

ARC review | ⭐️ | Fantasy Romance

Release date: April 8, 2025

Publisher: BeRead Ltd

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up DNFing this at 12%, and unfortunately that was gracious of me. This book is not ready for the public; it is rife with typos and the writing feels middle-grade at best. The synopsis details a princess running from her kingdom to trick the Crown Prince in order to save her people. Absolutely none of this was discussed or alluded to in the pages I read, despite the chapters being broken into multiple POVs. This writer might stand a chance at a career with a team of better editors and willingness to dedicate some time to the craft. At current, I won't be picking up any of her other work.

Cool world building, loved the politics and plotting. The mistrust, betrayals, and plot twists kept me on edge.

Overall this book was very enjoyable. It was fast paced, starting out right in the action. This is a story you can devour in just a few hours and not grow bored. However for me, there were some parts that fell a bit flat. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the dialogue, sometimes finding it a bit strange or juvenile. Some lines just pulled me right out of the story for a few moments. Even then, the cast was enjoyable and I found the world to be very interesting!

I’m going to be honest, I did really like this book, I wasn’t expecting the reveal of who Aria really was. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending or the second half of the book, it made me mad lol. It wasn’t bad I just wasn’t happy that there was conflict- I absolutely loved Aria and Raask romance and it didn’t really feel rushed, it felt like there was a connection that not even they knew how to navigate and that has to be one of my favourite tropes.

Thank you to net galley for the ARC

I loved the plot and the characters but a lot of the book seemed rushed, things were just moving too fast and sometimes it left me confused about certain scenes and characters. Overall, the book was good, I just wish the author slowed down the pace of the book and explain some things a bit more.

Thanks to NetGalley, BeRead Ltd and Samantha Gonda for the ARC of this book.

A good debut!
The story is told using several POVs, mostly Aria and Raask. The world is filled with syrens, faeries, gnomes, witches, and other interesting creatures.
I liked the magic system, it is quite unique. I appreciate the little guide to Lithen magic at the begging of the book, as it helped me understand the system much quicker.
The first chapter was strong and it drew me in right away. The pacing felt a little bit off, the start was slow, but around 40% things started to pick up. There were some twists and turns I did not expect at all, especially one of them - wow, it was such a bold move!
I wish there had been more descriptions of new characters and places. At times, I found myself struggling to envision them.

Overall, it kept me entertained.

Had to DNF at 5%. It looks like this is the author’s first book and while some things worked well, it wasn’t enough for me to stick around.

I love reading fantasy because I love escaping into a new world. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to with this book.

What works:
1. The magic system is unique (use of different colored “lithes” to cater treat anxiety, etc.)
2. Loved the first couple of pages of her dragging herself to shore. Very hook-worthy.
3. I’m sure there’s lots more, but I jumped ship. 🚢

Some complaints:
1. The story feels so flat and rushed. The setting is the biggest problem, IMO: underdeveloped and too vague. When we enter a new room or meet a new character or overlook the city for the first time, there’s maybe one descriptor we’re given. It’s too sparse to feel even remotely real.

Ultimately, I found it very difficult to envision any part of this world or the characters within it. There’s far too much telling and not nearly enough showing.

2. The dialogue is clumsy. The phrasing is very awkward and doesn’t sound like it would ever be said by a real person, never mind multiple people. Also, dialogue is used instead of narration to provide scene descriptions. But this only adds to the awkwardness. Instead, narration should be utilized help take the burden off the spoken words of the characters.

Oh my gosh, this book had so many twists and turns I'm still reeling! When I saw I'd nearly finished the book I was gutted, I'll be thinking about these characters for a while (and I'm dying to know what happens next).

Featuring lots of plots and scheming, falling in love with enemies, characters with noble aims but morally ambiguous methods, and the consequences of all of the above!

A dark ocean, Syrens, Gods, forbidden love and a girl out for revenge.

This book is perfect for anyone who is looking for a dark and twisty fantasy book with a good amount of romance. I really enjoyed this book as the plot was something different to other romantasy books out there. I also enjoyed the multiple POVs, as we learned so much about the world and each characters motives and believes. The only real flaw for me was the pacing. At some points it felt like just a lot of things were happening that did not really connect to each other and were more or less fillers. Still it came together in the end to make for a good ending for Book 1 in a series.

Aria is an interesting FMC, and she definitely fits the strong FMC archetype, even if I would have loved to know a bit more about her background. At least at the beginning of the book it was a bit difficult for me to conect with her character, but that changed throughout the book as her character traits were more and more developed and we learned more about her plans.

I also liked that we have the two brothers Raask and Viggo, who both basically want the same thing but go about it in different ways. I have to say that I probably related to Raask the most and would consider him my favorite character so far.

Finally, I want to say that I am excited to see how the story goes on, and in what way the Gods in this world will play a role in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Samantha Gonda for providing me with this eARC, so that I am able to give my honest review on this book. This review will be published on Storygraph, Fable as well as on my TikTok (@mellii_zz).

4.5 Stars

Thank you Net Galley and Samantha Gonda for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

From the very first page, I was completely drawn into the captivating world that Samantha Gonda has crafted. The magic system, the creatures, and the intricate world-building were all incredibly immersive. I found myself unable to put the book down, and even when I wasn't reading, I was constantly thinking about it.

One of the highlights of this book is the multiple points of view. Normally, I find myself less interested in at least one character's perspective, but not this time. Each character's story was compelling and kept me engaged throughout.

Aria, the main female character, was a standout. She was strong, confident, and easy to fall in love with. Raask, with his dual nature as both the charming and charismatic prince and his darker, more cruel side, was fascinating to follow. I loved how Aria brought out his true self. Similarly, Viggo, who initially I wasn't sure about, grew on me significantly as the story progressed, and I found his chapters highly enjoyable.

The romance plot lines throughout the story were amazing. Although at times it felt a bit rushed and insta-lovey, the chemistry between the characters was undeniable, and I found myself rooting for their relationships.

While some parts of the story felt slow, I was thoroughly enjoying the different perspectives. The plot had some well-executed twists that kept me guessing and intrigued throughout.

The ending of the book was nothing short of spectacular. It was insane in the best way possible, and I loved every moment of it. The bond between Raask and Viggo, their brotherly dynamic, was one of my favourite aspects of the book. You could truly feel how much they cared for each other.

This book was everything I could want in a fantasy novel. It was immersive, emotional, and filled with rich character dynamics. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did, and I am eagerly anticipating the next instalment to see how the story continues to unfold.

**ARC Review: *A Reign of Blood* by Samantha Gonda**

If you’re craving a *dark, moody fantasy* with morally gray characters, intense tension, and a lead who *doesn’t hold back*, *A Reign of Blood* needs to be on your radar. Samantha Gonda kicks off *The Songs of Beasts* series with an *absolute banger*—packed with vengeance, forbidden attraction, and a world that feels *as dangerous as it does intoxicating*.

This book gives us a fierce, no-nonsense protagonist who’s *practical, confident, and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty*. No *soft and sweet* here—Gonda delivers *sharp dialogue, brutal stakes, and an atmosphere so rich you can almost taste the blood in the air*.

The beginning sets the stage with intricate world-building, but *once the story picks up, it doesn’t let go*. The *second half is a full-throttle ride* with twists that’ll leave you *reeling*. And the romance? *Deliciously forbidden*—the kind that keeps you flipping pages way past midnight.

If you love *dark fantasy with edge*, this one’s for you. Gonda’s writing is *gritty, immersive, and unapologetic*, setting up what’s sure to be a series that *only gets more intense from here*.

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity 💕**

This book was a little boring for me. I liked the intrigue but I couldn’t really get through it without needing to take breaks because it didn’t capture my interest.

Aria infiltrates the Skierkan court to destroy the enemy of her people- the prince himself. But he's something more and she ends up falling for him.

Lots of steam, intrigue and betrayal. A fun and seductive book. Really enjoy it. The ending was a surprise and filled with twists.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

4.5/5 I want the next book immediately, please and thank you!

I immediately felt myself drawn into this book, there wasn't a slow start or info-dumping period, it was so well-paced.

Cool creatures with cool lore, political drama, hidden identities, enemies to lovers, adventure - everything you could possibly want in a fantasy novel/series!

I loved the characters, their personalities and dynamics together.

Very random thing for me to comment on, but I loved: our FMC mentioned having to go pee! Why did I love that so much?! I am one of those people that when reading a book or watching a movie, I think "when do they go to the bathroom?" But maybe my small bladder is just to blame for that. But it made me laugh and I appreciated it because yeah, I'd need many bathroom breaks on a magical adventure. She also mentioned that she had dirty hair and it needed to be washed and she was desperate to do so, and that was SUCH a mood.

And the way it ends! I need answers and I need the next book. I cannot wait for this adventure to continue.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

A Reign of Blood by Samantha Gonda is a 5 star read for me. It was sooo good. I couldn't stop reading this book for a bit. I totally recommend everyone to read this book.

Ahhhh.. the ending was amazing 🤩🤩 the post twist!! The cliffhanger.
I must say the start of the book was slow paced. However things start to pick up at the middle of the story. Second half of the book was absolutely brilliant. , fast paced and completely unpredictable. And give me huge second lead couple syndrome. I can't wait for the second book .
Thank you netgallay and Samantha Gonda for the arc