Let me try and collect my thoughts about this masterpiece, because wow...!
I've read books before that had me hooked very early on, but B&B takes the record by hooking me in with the very first sentence (and keeping me hooked the whole way through).
This book may seem intimidatingly long, but I was so damn glad for it. This is the type of world and story you don't want to leave. I will take every detail I can get! The world they've created is so expansive, but not at all confusing or overwhelming. My brain grabbed onto all of the knowledge about the different realms and magic systems so easily.
The characters are incredible...Alice is such a loyal and protective friend, and I adore her. The 'not instalove, but not slow-burn' romance between Connor and Summer is perfection. I ate up every moment they were together. The book has plenty of spicy scenes, but it never at any moment felt like too much.
Top all of that with a gripping plot that has you on the edge of your seat and honestly, Alexis and Jeanette have perfected the formula here. They've genuinely created something so special with Blood & Betrayals.
Oh, and about the ending? If I just don't mention it then the trauma isn't real, right? RIGHT?!

Thank you SO much to the authors and Rose & Star publishing for the ARC, and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest thoughts on the book. This has been such a privilege!

Give me a college fantasy romance any day of the week and I will happily lock myself away and devour it.

I don't even know where to begin with this book. It was absolutely way too long but I enjoyed every single second of it. This is my kind of book - academia fantasy with a mix of shifters, vampires, fae and angels, mystery and suspense, mental health rep, found family - everything I love wrapped up into a meaty 1000+ page package. The characters were amazing. I absolutely ADORE Alice, and while I was highly suspect of Connor for a good part of the book, he is an absolute golden retriever of a man and is my new book boyfriend. The character development and exploration of Summer and her past was emotional and gripping. I was diagnosed with BPD several years ago and it was refreshing to see it explored in a book, and I felt seen and heard and like I really connected with Summer's story. I think this book could have been shortened by removing a lot of the inner dialogue - at times it felt like I was reading Summer's diary with the narration and internal thoughts, but it also made it seem much more real, and like I could imagine it playing out right in front of me. If you're willing to commit to a thicc book, you will not regret reading this. I genuinely enjoyed it so much, and it is a fantastic dark academia novel with all of your favourite fantasy elements.

Thank you so much to the authors and Rose & Star Publishing for the eARC of this book <3

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was so fast paced and the world building was pretty easy. The ending just blew my mind and I cannot wait for the next book!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5

10-second synopsis: Welcome to Avalon University, where individuals of all species - shifters, vampires, fae, angels, etc - come to further their studies! Our girl Summer is a fae who has gone through some stuff in her life and just wants to get through school unscathed. However, there's dark secrets within her school and Summer finds herself needing to uncover them... Can she, her unhinged vampire bestie roommate, and her perfect golden retriever angel boyfriend figure out the truth before it's too late? Oh and did I mention Summer also has a stalker?

Review: This one was a WILD ride. I had the most fun reading this book! With a side of pain and heartache. Don't let the length of this book deter you. I ate up EVERY. SINGLE. page!!! From getting to know Summer and why she is the way she is (it was like looking in a mirror at times) to her friendship with Alice to sweet angel perfect baby sweetheart Connor and all of the other side characters, I feel like everyone was extremely well-developed and all had their own imprint on the story. Also, literally everyone in this book is hot? Like really hot? Here for it. I am FERAL to learn more about some of our side characters in book 2 and beyond. The mystery in this book is so well done - you think you know something, and psych, you don't.
There are so many questions at the end of book 1 that I just can't wait to get more!! Speaking of the ending, OMG I WILL NEVER RECOVER. That’s all!

Solid 3.5⭐ for me - rounding up

Phew, what a ride. Blood & Betrayals follows Summer, a Fae with a dark and mysterious past, through her first year at Avalon University. She's prepared to keep her walls up and other people out but what she wasn't prepared for was the greenest of green flag men and a little psycho vampire of a roommate to barrel their way right into her heart. On top of navigating her classes and these new relationships, add on an intriguing stalker, a string of murders and one reclusive but insanely hot headmaster...yeah, a rollercoaster.

Thank you to the authors for providing me with an advanced copy. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

- I loved all the main and side characters and thought they were all written well. Summer started to grate on my nerves towards the end but such is the nature of her character so to me, that means the authors wrote her exactly as intended.
- Alice is perfection.
- I'm a sucker for a murder mystery plot so I really enjoyed that and almost wish we got more of that.
- The authors really had the audacity to give us perfect Connor, hot AF headmaster Emrys, the mysterious and also hot Stranger, tortured broody Rafe, and even Maxxy poo. Not a why choose, not a love triangle - just all these male characters to fawn over. I mean, I'm not complaining!
- I loved the glimpses we got of the world outside Avalon and I'm really looking forward to exploring more of this world in future books.

Though I enjoyed and would recommend this book, obviously based on my rating, I did have some hangups which I will share below and will include spoilers. Stop here if that doesn't serve you.
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- The characters being 27-32 made no sense. I have a suspicion they were aged up to account for the frequency of sex that was happening. Unfortunately with the college setting as well as their own actions and dialogue, the characters still seemed younger like 18-22.
- A note on the spice - the frequency is high but the individual scenes were always quick. I was hoping for a little more especially as Summer and Connor's relationship progressed. But it was always him just slamming into her 🤷
- It's been said before but I'll say it again. This was so. damn. long. I can read a long book when the plot calls for it but this did not. There were a lot of repetitive scenes and seemingly unnecessary ones. I think this could have been tightened up and been a much stronger story.
- Speaking of unnecessary scenes - the cheerleading tryouts. Why were Summer and Alice trying out for the cheerleading team and just pulling back flips, cheer dances and back handsprings out of their back pocket?!
- Summer only started to bother me when it became apparent that she was oblivious to everyone being obsessed with her. Like girl, stop it. You can't possibly think the emotional cheating you've been engaging in is innocent.
- Max is truly the only person thinking logically lol when Summer tries to initiate a second tickle fest and he said "why would I play"? to an ENGAGED Summer I was like HELL YES MAX.
- I really needed more from that ending. I just didn't think it was enough payoff for the 1000 pages read.
- Unfortunately, my heart was not ripped out like my fellow readers. I'm not good at guessing things in books, but every part of me knew Connor would die. First of all, he was too perfect and perfect characters have nowhere to grow. Second of all, we have a plethora of potential love interests at play. A small part of me is unsure if he is dead dead but alas, I did not get that emotional gut punch.

This book and world completely consumed me - I devoured it!

A dark-academia setting with a murder mystery and the FMC being stalked by a sexy, mysterious stranger? Yeah, call me obsessed.

I will be one of the first in line for book two.

One thing about me is that I'm a sucker for a good dark academia romantasy. And this book delivered on both fronts. The world-building was well done. I loved the characters and felt like I could relate to both Summer and Alice at times. However, this book was loooong, and the romance felt too insta-lovey for a book this long. Other than that, I LOVED this book, and I definitely will be reading the second one.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙮. “𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙜𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙚.” 𝙃𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚. “𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙪𝙨.”

Summer has spent most of her adult life running, so when an opportunity arises to mature her magic within the wards and safety of Avalon University, she takes it. As un-Fae as she can get, she quickly bonds with her prickly vampire roommate Alice, and the disaster duo make their mark on campus. While at a party, Summer catches the eye of Avalon’s Golden Boy, Connor Morningstar, an archangel in the making. Despite their fast-paced relationship, Connor’s angelic sunshine can’t quite chase away her demons. And when Fae on campus start popping up dead, Summer’s in a race against the clock to find out who the Stranger is that lurks around every corner.

𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙖 𝘿𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙣.

Did I finish this book, or did this book finish me? There is not a major character that I did not end up half in love with by the end of this title. This story is so well-told and developed, and I was immersed from the get-go. Summer in the ultimate FMC – strong, snarky and brilliant, with a fierce protectiveness for the people she loves. I’m not sure if I want to be her, or be with her, ya know? I was absolutely blown away by this story, and I cannot wait for book 2 (so I can start to heal the trauma from book 1, right? Jeanette, Alexis, right??)

𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨, 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙨. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣.

Ouch.

Blood & Betrayals was such a fun time. I love seeing the trend of some darker fantasy, not too mention the academia aspect of the story as well- with it taking place at the university. Summer was a bit stressful in the way she was quite reckless- but I love a found family trope and watching her bond with her vampire roommate Alice was honestly one of my favourite parts!

This was such a ride. If Crescent City and Zodiac Academy had a baby. I loved Summer, but our vampire QUEEN Alice has my whole damn heart.

I can’t wait to see what happens next, I will be impatiently over here waiting and suffering let me tell you.

This was one of the best character driven books I’ve read in a while. I really enjoyed getting to slowly learn more about Summer’s backstory as well as watching the characters around her break down her walls. I also loved the relationships that were featured in this book. I loved the friendship between Summer and Alice. It was everything in this book. I love how they connected right away but didn’t force the other to be anything other than who they are. The relationship with Connor as well as his siblings was another interesting element to watch develop. Although, I was more interested in the Stranger and Headmaster. The intrigue with both of those characters was great. I will say in terms of the overall plot, I did not figure out the mystery until Summer did. I was so focused on the characters that I’m sure I was overlooking clues. I also found the world building to be really well done. I especially liked the stark differences between being at Avalon vs visiting Alice’s home vs Connor’s home. I also appreciated all of the different mythological beings that were captured in this story. The ending of this book , though, was brutal and I’m desperate for the next in the series.

Blood & Betrayals is the balm to my soul.

B&B by Alexis Rune & Jeanette Rose is told in first person multi-POV, that will expand to more as the series continues. It follows Summer Tuatha De Daanan on her journey to a new realm and school. She meets her roommate, Alice, who is a small feral vampire who will hiss at anyone for thinking of approaching the pair. Connor Morningstar, the angel golden retriever who is absolutely smitten with her. His brothers, a stalker Stranger with decorations, a hottie headmaster, and my mans Max (I already called DIBS!!!)

This starts out with a 🩸⚔️ and has so many different twists and turns. It’s spicy, found family, banter, stalking, first love, coming into your own, feminine rage, and as the title suggests Blood & Betrayals. I was absolutely catatonic when I finished the book (or rather when it finished me) and I stared at the wall for hours, it would have been for days, but I had things I had to do. I’m STILL processing this 20 days later. I’ve read it twice and will need to read more until I can get my hands on the next installment.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is the first in a series that will be the next thing everyone is talking about. Avalon University is going to be the next big thing and it’s truly taken over my entire personality. This world took over and gave my soul what it needed in a time when I felt like I was lost and drowning.

Guys. Did I finish this book or did it finish me? 😩

easily a 5 star read. Many notes. Such a slay. All the feelings. I laughed. I cried. I crushed and was crushed. This one is for all of my fellow nerds who love to Easter egg hunt. The level of detail and care the authors take while building this world is astounding, and to know it’s just the start? I’m vibrating with excitement and BEGGING for more.

I’m in love with the entire cast of characters, male and female. Everyone is hot, funny and filled with personality. Summer, my dearest little fae, is like looking in a mirror. She’s so raw and messy, and I hurt when she hurts.

I actually don’t even want to talk about how obsessed I am with the male characters. Golden boy Connor. Broody Headmaster Emrys. A mysterious stalker known only as the Stranger.

<b>I’m but a humble simp, Your Honor. I didn’t stand a chance.</b>

The found family is everything to me. AND THE FEMALE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN SUMMER & ALICE IS ESPECIALLY SO PURE AND BEAUTIFUL. YOU CAN SEE THEY CHERISH EACH OTHER. 10/10 would lay down my life for them. The Morningstar brothers, Max, all of it is phenomenally and emotionally written.

The blend of dark fantasy and romantic suspense was handled so well. Was there a whole lot of boinking going on? Hell yes. But take that away and this plot is just as compelling, just as nail bitingly intense. I felt like a detective trying to sleuth things out & it was equally as maddening as it was exciting to be so invested in this story.

<b>HONESTLY EVERYONE READ THIS PLEASE.</b>

This is for you if you like:
- dark urban fantasy meets thriller vibes
- dark academia/magical university
- multi realm lore and myth based world building
- fae, shifters, angels, vampires, sorcerers, etc
- tattoo & rune based magic
- hyper independent fmc
- black cat x golden retriever energy
- twin flame besties & found family
- mysterious obsessed stalker
- spicy spice

Thank you to NetGalley, Jeanette Rose, Alexis Rune, and Rose & Star for the Advance Reader Copy!

I was instantly enthralled by the world building, I loved the idea of all the realms and what they all were. All the different magical races and their characteristics. I was intrigued to know more about out main character and had predictions to where she had been and who she really was. When it came to the lore of the world I think this was really well done.

My issues with the book came from the writing itself, it spent a lot of time on more mundane things, It felt very "slice of life", lets get drunk, lets go to a football game, lets get ready for the party together. I think this all could have been cleaned up a little and shortened. It's a 1000 page ebook and I dont really think any book needs to be that long.

I also personally didn't love the romance, it felt very instant. And for me if the book is 1000 pages it better be slow burn. But on page 50 he was already obsessed with her.

I just ended up with more complaints then things I liked sadly, but I think if you like a more slice of life style of writing give this one a go.

Ouch.

This was such a ride. If Crescent City and Zodiac Academy had a baby. I loved Summer, but our vampire QUEEN Alice has my whole damn heart.

I can’t wait to see what happens next, I will be impatiently over here waiting and suffering let me tell you.