Blood and Betrayals drew me right in with its magical university setting, tangled with a murder mystery at its core. The FMC surprised me by being more outgoing than I initially expected, but her emotional growth over the course of the story made her very engaging.

The MMC is almost too perfect at times, bordering being icky, which made their relationship an interesting push-and-pull. That said, since they got together early on and the book is on the longer side, i actually missed a proper development of their relationship.

Thankfully, the mystery and other plotlines gave me plenty to stay invested in.

I loved the academic setting and the found family trope in this book. It is a long book but a really quick read. I can't wait until the next book comes out!

Now be warned, this isn’t a quick Sunday afternoon read, this is a marathon, but trust me, it’s worth it.

I finished this book a few days ago, and it’s been living rent free in my mind since. Purely for all the unanswered questions. Understandable considering it’s the first in a series, but I just wanted to read the next books NOW!

It’s set at a magical University in the grips of a murder mystery centred around our FMC. Her personality wound up being more outgoing than I first expected, but I did like her emotional growth. And I really liked her best friend - she reminded me of my own bestie, the banter is on point. The MMC almost seems too perfect, he’s very much a golden retriever, and it feels like he’s both so right and so wrong for the FMC at the same time if that’s even possible, but you can’t help but love him. One thing I found was that since they hooked up early in the story, and the book is so long, the spice got a little predictable after awhile; and I was glad to have other aspects of the plot developing to focus on.

Without creating spoilers for those yet to read this, there are a few characters (3 in particular) who I’m definitely hanging to find out where their stories will lead to because I feel like there’s way more under the surface than what we’ve seen so far. I loved the depth of the rune magic and the future potential it has but also how personal and instinctual it is for the FMC. There are a lot of seeds planted for plot lines to take off and snowball in the next books.

That ending. My god, that ending had me tapping my kindle screen in disbelief, hoping more pages would appear from nowhere… but alas, they did not. I’ll admit I’ve struggled to write this review because my body and mind just doesn’t feel finished with the story yet. I am well and truly hooked, the paperback is in my Amazon cart waiting for payday and I can’t wait for the next book to be available!

Thank you to Jeanette Rose, Alexis Rune and Rose and Star Publishing for the advance read in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley and, Rose and Star Publishing for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of the book was very interesting plus, a dark academia, paranormal fantasy horror setting with romance? Sign me up!

The prologue is what got me. The writing in that part was very eerie, suspenseful, and slightly gory. But as I got to the part where Summer and Alice met, I got annoyed? lol I found them together very insufferable. The characters in here are supposed to be in their late 20s to early 30s but why were they giving late teens to early 20s insufferable attitudes and personalities? There are some parts where Summer wanders off alone and has thoughts to herself and those are actually the parts I enjoyed the most. But as soon as there's any dialogue or interaction with Alice, I get immense frustration and start to eye roll lol maybe I just find Alice super irritating.

Unfortunately I had to DNF at 22%, chapter 25. This book just gave immature sports college romance, and that's too long in about the first quarter especially knowing that this book is over a thousand pages! Besides the prologue, the first parts of the book did not really delve into the fantasy or horror aspect nor the plot. Just parties and lots of chase flirting. This book was written by two authors and it's very telling in the writing difference unfortunately, which made the transition in scenes and dialogue very jarring. Whoever wrote the prologue, maybe write your own book cos I would read it lol This book has been compared to the Zodiac Academy series, which I haven't read yet.

The set-up in this book is a little weird. It's dark academia but the students are in their late 20's to early 30's and to top it off they have to wear school uniforms.
It starts strong, then looses pace after about a 150 pages. There's a lot of irrelevant filler stuff.
I don't think I have ever been more annoyed by an FMC. I get that she has trauma but this personality is borderline. She's almost 30 yet she acts out like a teenager. She comes over like a bitch in heat, flirting with pretty much every guy in her life and needing their confirmation.
The mushy MMC is suffocating.
This book lacks editing, there are several spelling errors.
It ends on a cliffhanger but if the second book is over 500 pages long I won't be reading it.

I’m sorry to say this but I DNF this book 🙈 I really enjoyed the world building and the academy school but the characters were so unlikeable I really dislike the Fmc she’s was just mean, horrible and maybe a sex addict. The Mmc was so pushy and annoying I hated him from the start.
I’m sorry but this book wasn’t me
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc

This book had me feeling all the not quite positive emotions. I felt it was waaaaay too long but also the plot had me confused and the amount of s&x had me skipping every 3 pages. I could actually say that at least 500 of the 700 pages was s&x and I’m usually a lover but this book? Not for me

This stranger though? Yeah. He can get it.

I don’t even know what to say after that ending and finishing this book. I suspected that was what was coming, but wow that was just cruel. I need book two asap and am itching for March to come.

I do not think that this book needed to be this long by any means, and it’s probably its main downfall. You truly are seeing these characters day by day for the majority of this book, with only a few time jumps. Which, while tough, really gets you connected to the characters and fully immersed in this world, and also allowed you to fully learn the magic system along with our main character.

For sure the longest book I’ve read, but somehow I flew through it, which is still beyond me as a slow reader. I just kept wanting to pick it up and know what crazy thing would happen next. If you are a fan of Zodiac Academy and enjoy just a fun, entertaining book, I would recommend this. It gives similar vibes but has a very different plot and characters.

But I probably wouldn’t recommend this to people who don’t enjoy a slower, more character-driven story and prefer a tight-knit plotline that drives the story. There were a few points where I considered putting it down for a bit, since it felt quite slow and I wasn’t sure where we were heading. But then the next chapter had me fully back in and invested with the mystery plotline. I absolutely loved the school setting and getting to see all of the different mythical creatures and beings!

I will be picking up book two ASAP. I 1000% need more of the Stranger’s character and hopefully a reveal, as I feel like it can really only be one person, and if it isn’t, I will riot. I was rooting for him the whole time, hehe. But I also love Connor so much, he is a sweetie, but was a little too insta-lovey for me personally. Love Alice and the found family that was built with all of the characters!

This book definitely started off strong, with a vicious murder scene. It absolutely grabs your attention right away. The rest of the book was very up and down with the pacing. There were times when it felt like we were just getting through life, and then we would happen upon a big scene, such as another murder, and events surrounding it. There was a decent bit of repetition in the story line, and even some of the spicy scenes felt like the same thing over and over again (and they were all fairly quick). At one point I thought the author was just trying to prove a point of how maybe Connor wasn't the right guy for her and thought it was an interesting way to display it, but after that ending :( it didn't really seem necessary.
The relationship between them was a little instant which i didn't love or buy, but you would be crazy to not love Connor and the golden retriever that he is. I loved exploring his family and their dynamic with each of his brothers as well. They are all so different yet play a vital role in the family and Connors life. It provided a good contrast between the life that Summer had and what Connor had. I think it also played a purpose to show how different their lives are and a hint at their lack of compatibility.
Now the stranger, I loved. He actually understands Summer and has no issues pushing back on her. He isn't afraid to piss her off with the truth, which I think Connor was and it would have eventually destroyed them. The Stranger saw Summer for who she was and embraced it. I also think it is possibly the headmaster, which I would LOVE. I ate up all the scenes with them working together to help solve the murders. I lived for every moment the interacted with each other and the tension was tensioning.
Despite that, I do think some of the moments that were meant to be big were a little anti-climactic. We found out who was runing everydayemrys, but nothing really came of discovering that person. Alice died, but she was dead for all of 5 minutes, etc. I feel like lots of big moments eneded up being downplayed.
But the story line with the stranger/headmaster/the murders will keep me interested and wanting to know more. When Aqua was walking SUmmer back to the Morningstar house at the end, I finally caught on that it was most likely her. She's crazy. But those last 2 chapters when Summer was being held captive left me with so many questions that have me wanting more answers.
All in all, the book was too long and the pacing was a little off and some times were a little boring and we could have used more impactful moments, but the main story line kept me interested and I want to keep reading and find out about the murders, dark/light fae, and the stranger/headmaster. Decent for a first book in a series.

⌛ 3.75⭐ What I loved though, are all the side plots. Like literally all of them. I have so many theories!

The Stranger?
The Headmaster?
The Trainer?
The Wifey?

I loved like 70% of this until it became obvious where I personally wanted the story to go and then I was in a rush to get there. Because it will get there. (Just probably not for several books.)

Vis a vis.... too damn long.

I hope they do audiobooks for this series. I will be back for a reread before book 2.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

P.s No clue if this is why choose but did it give those vibes to anyone else???

I would roundup to 3.5 / 5 if possible on the site.

If you like a long read with lots of romance and a slower plot build this is the book for you! With over 700+ pages to read this is a book that really gives the reader time to sink into the world and get to know the characters.

Personally, I felt a few scenes were repetitive and could have used another edit. I felt some of the romance was a little childish but at the same time I was kicking my feet in the air. I couldn’t put this book down and spent a few late nights trying to finish just one more chapter.

With all this being said the ending really got me and I spoke about it all day. I feel very lost on where it is going to go from here in a good way. The suspense is killing me! I would definitely be keen to pick up the second book and see what happens next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow. Just wow. Blood & Betrayals grabbed me from page one and refused to let go. This book is the perfect mix of dark intrigue, swoony romance, and edge-of-your-seat action. Rose and Rune have built such a vivid, layered world that feels both dangerous and intoxicating—you can practically taste the tension in the air.

The characters are what made this shine for me. They’re flawed, fierce, and utterly compelling. The push and pull between loyalty, desire, and survival had me second-guessing every choice right alongside them. I loved how every twist revealed another secret, another betrayal, and another reason to keep turning pages way past my bedtime.

The pacing is sharp, the banter is addictive, and the emotional beats hit exactly where they should. If you’re into dark romance with high stakes, morally gray characters, and just the right touch of angst, this one delivers in spades.

Hadn’t realized this one would be over 1000 pages, but the fast-paced story flew by, leaving me eager to read the ending.

Blood & Betrayals, a dark academia story set at Avalon University, is the first book in the Fated Bloodlines series. It had Zodiac Academy vibes with diverse and interesting characters in an engaging world. The story leaves many unanswered questions, making it a must-read for book #2.

Wow. I really had to sit with this book once I finished it since there was so much to process! I'm still not sure if I have fully formed all of my thoughts and will likely still be thinking about it for a long while (until the sequel comes out).

If you enjoy dark urban fantasies that take place at an academy setting with different magical species (angels, vampires, valkyries, fae, shifters...) with a splash of serial murders and a devastatingly delicious stalker... this read is for you! Do note that Blood & Betrayals is an extremely character-driven story with very strong character development. There is a dark and suspenseful overarching plotline but that aspect mainly picks up around 40-50% of the way through the book, while the first part is more focused on the romance and characters themselves. But don't worry, once the plot thickens... I feel like the gas pedal just doesn't come off!

I adored all the characters and there's a very strong theme of found family in this story (which is one of my favorite tropes)! We have Summer, a loner fae with a traumatic past who is more than meets the eye, her new BFF Alice, a vampire princess with daddy issues & who also answers to the "Mistress of Bloodshed", Connor, a golden-retriever angel who makes even me want to be the best version of myself, and of course....Stranger (once you meet him, you'll understand). The story rides a very intricate line of being dark, romantic, emotional, and suspenseful throughout its entirety! It was a great time, even though the ending devastated me so much. I can't wait for the next book to come out.

I would also like to say that I've never read a story with a character who has (undiagnosed) BPD, and to watch this story play out through Summer's eyes was an experience in itself. Seeing how Summer perceived and responded to certain situations in a way so opposite to how I feel I would've handled the same set of circumstances was initially a bit jarring. But the more I thought about it and challenged myself to see her perspective and to use the information we've learned about her (from her feelings of inadequacy, tendency to self-sabotage, and past trauma), the more I found myself connecting with her. I truly feel this story has made me a much more empathetic individual as a whole, and for that (as well as this epic story), I thank the authors immensely!

Sadly this book joined my DNF pile.

The cover is what really pulled me in and the description showed promise, but the plot is slow for a long stretch and seems to create too much filler leading up to what I hope is an amazing story...just not something for me. It also take a LOT for me to get into any kind of fantasy style reads.

The mismatch with characters emotional states, internal thoughts, going over the same insecurities or traumas without new development. Felt like treading water.

It needed more balance and less of what felt like too much tell and not enough showing. Being such a long book does put it into the expectation of something more but even with skipping forward, it wasn't catching my attention.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rose Star Publishing for the digital copy of Blood & Betrayals. I am rounding down to 2 stars because I can't give it 2.5 on this platform. While I am normally captivated by a fantasy academia as sub-genre, this book unfortunately ticked very few boxes for me. It was *painfully and unnecessarily* long, at over 1000 pages. I have consumed plenty of thick fantasy books that felt like they flew by and were nothing. This one, was not those.
My biggest issue happened right out of the gate with an instalove(lust) that then proceeded to include spicy scenes nearly every chapter with no tension, relationship building or reason to care about why they were banging. I am not one to skim through spice scenes, but I could NOT care less about the ones in this book. Their relationship just didn't capture me in any way, perhaps because they simply just started boinking at like 10% into the book, with no time for the reader to have even feelings about either character. The romance/relationship read very Wattpad, and it would jolt me out of any sort of interest I began to build in the magic/plot.
And speaking of the magic/plot. In over 1000 pages, were we ever left wanting more of that. World building was simplistic at best, absent at worst. I presume we are supposed to be left wanting more with The Stranger and the Headmaster, but if she couldn't capture me in 1000 pages, she won't find me investing it in any more.
If you are fans of Zodiac Academy, perhaps this will tick some things off for you. If you like near 30 year olds acting like college freshman in an urban acadamia fantasy setting, give it a shot. It may be your cup of tea.

Absolutely Gripping – I Need Book Two NOW!

I devoured Blood and Betrayals in just three days and I need the second book in this series ASAP! This story pulls you in from the first page and refuses to let go. It's beautifully written, with an intricate and complex plot full of unexpected twists, emotional intensity, and just the right touch of spice.

Yes, there are some repetitive elements, but strangely, they work—they feel intentional, almost like a rhythm that enhances the story rather than detracts from it. The characters are dynamic and evolving; while some changes feel a little unrealistic at times, others are incredibly relatable and raw. I found myself caring deeply about them, flaws and all.

The mix of magic, runes, academic intrigue, and murder mystery is perfection. It’s dark, dramatic, and endlessly compelling. This book kept me on the edge of my seat—and now I’m desperate to know what happens next. A very impressive start to a series I’ll be following closely.

Blood & Betrayals is a dark‑academia romantasy set at Avalon University. It’s a school full of magical beings like fae, vampires, angels, and sorcerers.
Summer, enrolls at Avalon hoping to fly under the radar. She has no intention of digging into her past or understanding who arranged for her to attend. But of course, things don’t go as quietly as she wishes: she has a vampire roommate who’s intense, an angelic senior who sees through her defenses, and a sadistic stalker deviously warning her with “seven lessons to learn.” Summer gradually becomes embedded in a campus‑mystery, dealing with blood, betrayal, and secrets behind the façades of power and magic.

It’s a long book (700+pages) and I found the pacing to be slow with a lot of plot-waiting. However, I found the found family aspect between Summer, her roommate and several dynamic classmates to be enjoyable. I happen to love the trope of found family but the characters themselves seemed a little immature for their supposed age. This book is definitely a romantasy with it taking up a large narrative space, with the mystery taking second.

Wish college was all about meeting your vampire bestie (wife) on the first day of school and skipping the awkward stage, having a hot golden retriever man be obsessed with you from the moment he first sees you and warmly welcoming you into his family, studying at the library every once in a while about runes, “befriending” your hot and dark (yet sweet) stalker, and not being able to hold eye contact with your handsome (and tall) headmaster while being at the heart of a suspenseful mystery 😪

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of the e-ARC <3

This book is 100% a bit of me. As someone who loves Zodiac Academy this filled a similar hole for me but it’s completely unique in itself! I’m obsessed with a dark academia setting with a murder mystery.

The ending was brilliant, devastating but brilliant. I shed many tears. I cannot wait to read the next book!

My one flaw is this book is massive, it definitely could be cut down!