4⭐

Thank you to Alexis Rune, Jeanette Rose and Rose & Star Publishing for the ARC.

𝕭𝖑𝖔𝖔𝖉 & 𝕭𝖊𝖙𝖗𝖆𝖞𝖆𝖑𝖘 follows Summer, a fae starting her first year at an elite magic institution known as Avalon University. While trying to move on from a dark past, Summer finds herself opening up to new people (her feral vampire roommate bestie Alice, and boyfriend Connor, while navigating murders happening on campus.

I've asked myself after reading this book — did this book finish me or did I finish myself with this book? I'm having a wonderful love-hate relationship with this book —I didn't hate the book, no, I hate myself for not reading this masterpiece sooner.

I was immediately hooked to the plot from the very first page. I knew that this book would be an amazing banger. I was able the grapple with the mysteriousness of this book, which pulled me more into intrigue towards the book. The authors did an amazing job writing an atmospheric setting and mystery that was quite literally everywhere while reading. Every single page — every single paragraph was vividly playing out in my mind, the atmosphere, the characters and setting all coming to life in my mind!

As someone who loves savouring long books and takes three-four days to finish it, it took me just a few hours to binge-read this book. I simply could not stop reading on my Kindle and flip and devour a thousand pages. I'd amazingly say that it was time very well spent.

The characters were simply more than amazing. The authors incorporated the found family aspect amazingly in the book, from Summer and Alice's friendship, Max and Summer's friendship, Connor's relationship with his family and he amazing Morningstar family, Summer and Connor had such an amazing relationship, with undeniable chemistry and spice.

The mystery aspect had me questioning everyone throughout the novel. The amount of red herrings in this book had me questioning my entire life because I could not stop making theories. The plot-twists were so casually and unexpectedly dropped and had my jaw on the floor. The blend of dark fantasy and romantic suspense was handled so well that I need more and more from this already amazingly long book.

What broke my heart was that shattering ending that completely destroyed me. I did not anticipate that ending and still rethink my life choices just remembering that ending. I'm still sobbing everytime I think about and sometimes, my heart just goes numb from it.

Respectfully, I am destroyed by both Alexis Rune and Jeanette Rose. I cannot wait for the next installment to come out in March 2026!

Okay, I loved this book. Blood & Betrayals had me hooked from page one and I could not put it down.

Summer is such a layered main character. Flawed, guarded, but so relatable. I adored the mix of friendships, found family, and romance here.

The romance was so good, just the right amount of tension and sweetness (with spice thrown in too!).

Yes, it’s a chunky book, but honestly I didn’t mind at all. I loved being immersed in this world and spending more time with these characters. If anything, I didn’t want it to end.

I laughed, I cried, and now I’m desperate for book two. I am hooked for this series.. I need answers and I need more of these characters ASAP!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF: chapter 3

After reading the first few chapters, I knew that I wasn’t going to like this book. The premise was promising, but I disliked the writing style. I thought the way it was written gave me YA vibes. Summer, the FMC, is supposed to be an adult rather than a teenager, right? But her internal dialogue didn’t really convince me of this.

‘“Sure,” I answer. Wait, what? I was going to say no. Why did I agree to go with her? The word was out before I could stop it.’

The above is from chapter one. Considering this is also upwards of 1000 pages, I thought it would be better to bow out than get too far in and wish I had DNF-d earlier.

Sorry guys this is going to be a soft dnf for me right now, ts written a little ‘young’ for me personally. Thank you kindly for the opportunity though!

This book is a perfect fall/spooky season read, it has everything you could possibly want! We have dark academia, paranormal, fae, vampires, angels etc. Throughout the book there’s a murder mystery going on that keeps you intrigued, a little bit of a stalker situation happening to the FMC. I loved the banter in this book between the FMC and the MMC, but especially loved the friendship between Summer(FMC) and Alice. This whole book gives urban fantasy meets thriller and I ate it up!!!!

This vibes for the Zodiac academy girlies with a murder mystery sprinkled in.

Despite the slower start it was an enjoyable read. Sometimes a bit predictable but excited to see where this is going in the next book. The writing was compulsively readable despite it being a bit slower paced at the start. The book didn't take itself too seriously and that made it enjoyable. The friendship between Summer and Alice was one of the highlights for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book.

Okay that ending though!!

The story and world building were phenomenal, and I cared so much about every character. You know it’s a good story when you almost care for the side characters more than the mains (Alice my beloved). This did feel more character driven, as most of the story focused on the day-to-day relationship between Summer and Connor. The mystery with the Stranger kept me very intrigued.

The only reason this isn’t five stars is it needs a few more rounds of line or copy edits. There were a lot of paragraphs that said the same thing four different ways and could have been shortened for clarity. This would also have helped the length, as the middle felt fairly slow to get through.

⭐️3.5⭐️

Wow, that was… weird.

This whole book feels like an experiment to test the question, ‘is there such thing as too many literary tropes?’, to which this book answers with a resounding ‘yes’. Blood & Betrayals was a wild, if not always enjoyable, 1000+ page journey through the full spectrum of romance/romantasy tropes, with a dash of plot to keep the reader going.

The first half of this book is a slightly insufferable coming-of-age story about Summer, a late-twenties fae with serious commitment issues and “pick-me” vibes, and her first year at a magical university. This first half crams in pretty much every university stereotype - a roommate-turned-ride-or-die best friend, wild drunken frat parties, constant use of social media, one-night-stands, important football games, the popular golden-boy student/class president/star football player who falls in love with our FMC at first sight, a swoon-worthy professor, and copious and occasionally public sexual encounters featuring an excessive use of the nauseating term “big guy”.

If you make it through the tedious first half, you’ll be rewarded with a glimpse of a plot peeking over the horizon. The murder-mystery storyline is actually compelling, especially as potential motives start to be unpicked and Summer starts to become slightly more bearable as a character. The delicious tension with the mysterious Stranger was a highlight, as were any scenes involving the headmaster. A promising sense of intrigue was budding towards the end of the book, but any hopes for a redeeming ending were thwarted by the authors showing their hand and spoiling the big reveal with a rather rushed and suddenly predictable conclusion.

Overall, this book was a hot mess. And it needed some serious proofreading/editing. But somewhere in there, obscured by the near-constant chaos and cringeworthy couplings, were the foundations of a promising romantasy.

I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book through NetGalley. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

I really wanted to enjoy Blood & Betrayals—the premise had promise, with its mix of dark romance, supernatural intrigue, and betrayal at its core. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the potential.

The biggest struggle for me was the pacing. Scenes often dragged with over-explained details, then suddenly lurched forward in ways that felt rushed. This made it hard to stay fully engaged, and I found myself skimming sections just to get back to something meaningful.
The characters, while initially intriguing, didn’t develop in satisfying ways. Their motivations felt inconsistent, and the emotional depth I expected just wasn’t there. Instead of being swept up in their betrayals and passions, I often felt disconnected, like I was watching from a distance rather than experiencing the story with them.

The worldbuilding also left me wanting more. There were glimpses of a rich, layered universe, but it was either underexplored or drowned in info-dumps that broke the flow of the narrative.

There are definitely readers who might enjoy the drama and darker elements, but for me it was a frustrating read. With tighter editing, stronger character arcs, and more balance in pacing, this could have been a much stronger book. Sadly, it just didn’t deliver what I was hoping for.

Book Review: Blood & Betrayals by Jeanette Rose & Alexis Rune
💜💜💜💜 | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spicy

Set in a dark academia world with Fae, Angels, Vampires, Shifters, and other supernatural species, Blood & Betrayals brings together romantasy spice, found family, mystery, and plenty of school drama.

Our FMC, Summer, is in her late 20s (BTW—all the characters are in their late 20s-early 30s)—which feels unusual for an academy setting, but I’m rolling with it. She’s a little immature with repetitive commitment issues, which while annoying, doesn’t make her completely unbearable. In fact, I’m looking forward to her growth as the series continues. The MMC is literally angelic—sweet, pure, and maybe too soft and sweet at times—but it makes sense for where the story is headed. IYKYK

What really hooked me wasn’t the writing itself but the banter and dialogue, which were sharp and fun. Oh…and the way the mystery unfolds. I think mystery might be my favorite microtrope.?. 🤔 Alice is a standout character for me, and the dynamic between the characters gave me that addictive found-family feel. 💋 There are twists, turns, and spooky vibes throughout, and the OMG cliffhanger ending—while not surprising—felt necessary to push Summer into her darker arc. Fear not, there are still plenty of unanswered questions (looking at you, Stranger 👀).

✨ Expect:
Dark Academia Romantasy
Found Family & Great Banter
Tension + Mystery
Twists, chaos, and a lot of spice 🌶️

Yes, it’s messy, a little immature, but completely entertaining. I couldn’t put it down. Obsessed, and ready for book 2.

Blood and Betrayal drew me in from the very beginning with Summer’s story. She’s mysterious, different from other fae, and clearly being watched, which creates an underlying tension throughout the book. Her friendship with Alice quickly became one of my favorite elements — both women carry difficult pasts and emotional walls, yet they manage to open up to each other in a way that feels real and heartfelt.

The setting of Avalon Academy is another highlight, with its wide range of magical beings including shifters, sorcerers, angels, vampires, and fae all tied together by a rune-based magic system. The layers of intrigue, from Summer’s abusive past, to the horrible murders unfolding at the academy, kept me engaged and eager for answers.

Where I struggled was with the maturity of the characters. They’re written as being in their late 20s to early 30s, but often act much younger. The main love interest, Connor, an angel with almost superhuman patience (the kind I wish I could muster for my toddler!), felt too good for the MFC. Summer often craved attention from multiple male characters despite being in a relationship, which didn’t sit well with me. As a “one love interest” type of reader, à la Rebecca Yarros, I believe even in fantasy worlds, respecting relationships matters. Inappropriate overlaps don’t need to be normalized just because it’s a fantasy romance.

That said, there are plenty of elements I’m excited to see developed further: the mysterious malevolent being, the hot headmaster, the broody gym rat, and the devastating loss that occurs in this book. I was not prepared for the ending, I have a difficult past and when reading fantasy you hope for the magical. This ending felt like good people finish last and if it feels too good to be true, that maybe it is - which, is the exact opposite of what you want to read about.

My hope is that book two will start answering more of the questions that have been raised, and that the characters will show more growth in both maturity and relationships.

Overall, this is a promising start to a series, with a rich world and strong friendships at its heart.

Once you get passed a little bit of world building, this book was so hard to put down. I finished it in 2 days. I liked that the fmc was the morally gray one. The end of the book was crazy and I can not wait for book 2

I feel like the characters were supposed to be late 20's to early 30's, but they acted like immature children instead of fully grown adults. This book also contains the insta-love trope, which is not one of my favorites. That's a me thing, of course. I just have a hard time understanding instant love/obsession. Attraction? Sure. But love/obsession with someone you don't know/ barely know? No.

Anyway.

I've read many reviews claiming this was similar to Zodiac Academy and I personally don't feel that way. Aside from being an academy-type setting, it felt totally different to me.

This was a fast-paced fantasy romance full of twists, double-crosses, and plenty of tension. Rose and Rune clearly know how to keep a reader hooked, though at times I wished the world-building had slowed down enough to let me breathe. Still, the chemistry between characters was a highlight and kept me turning the pages. It’s a solid pick for readers who enjoy intrigue mixed with romantic heat.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!

Blood & Betrayals was such a thrilling read—I loved the friendship between Summer and Alice, the dark academia vibes of Avalon University, and the twists and mystery kept me hooked. The stalker storyline was chilling, and the ending left me desperate for book two. A dark, magical, and suspenseful fantasy start I’d definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc. In no way does this sway my opinion or this book.

Sadly I just don’t think this is the book for me. Maybe it’s the timing or the writing but I just struggled to really invest in this book. The main character acted like two different people at times and I couldn’t really get a sense of personality from anyone.
Our love interest was very run of the mill. The best friend was a likable character though and did redeem a lot of this book. She was funny and witty and I enjoyed reading about their interactions.
I am also intrigued by the magic system just not enough to want to continue learning about it.
Overall I do think the right audience will really appreciate this book I just don’t think that audience is for me.
Remember all readers have opinion and this is just mine. 🤍

Thank you Netgalley & Rose and Star Publishing for a copy of this book for an honest review.

DNF at 53% -
If you are looking for a book that gives you that Zodiac Academy feeling, this one may be a strong contender. In this university-like setting, we follow Summer as she starts her first semester at Avalon University. However, as each day passes. Summer's year at school is not only romantic, it's slowly turning into a murder mystery.

There are several elements of the book that I absolutely adore:
*University setting
*Murder mysteries
*Dark Academia
*Found Family

I think the authors did an amazing job showing the platonic love between Summer and Alice. You could feel how strong the two cared for each other. However, I found myself growing more annoyed with the book and our main characters.

There were two parts of this book that found me less and less intrigued and care about our characters:
1. Romance
2. Lack of focus on the murder mystery.

The romance between Summer and Connor was rushed and lustful despite trying it's hardest not to be. Summer, at the beginning, was as whiplash-like as one could get when it came to her emotions with Connor. It would have helped to see more of a build up on their relationship to justify the way Summer was feeling. Connor's obsession with Summer at first was strange to me. The way these two behaved made them seem like they were teenagers, not someone in their late 20's. Spending more time on the development of their relationship and their emotions at the beginning would have created a better understanding as to why Summer and Connor were attracted to each other. It would have came across more as actual love and not lust.

The most heartbreaking part of this book for me was the murder mystery. With the lack of information on the fall of the Faerie world to the deaths of students that looked like Summer, this had me hooked and desperate for more. As I kept on reading, it seemed like we got further and further away from this plot point. It felt like that had to take a seat as the romance fluff took over the whole story.

This book had so much potential to be the next Zodiac Academy, however, there needs to be a bigger focus on the actual mystery and character's emotional maturity.

DNF at 14%.

I love an academy setting in books, but the characters felt very juvenile, and I thought it was an odd choice to age them up to be in their 20s and 30s, while they are playing pranks on each other, going to frat parties, and generally making bad choices like ditching orientation to break into a restricted library on their first day. The immediately intense friendship and loyalty between Summer and Alice also felt a bit unearned. I'm sure Summer's character grows in the rest of the book, but I had trouble connecting to her negative attitude and disregard for everyone except Alice,

I had a difficult time getting into this story at the beginning. I don't know why, I think seeing ''15 hours left'' on my kindle was just daunting.

It was also a bit of a slow start for me as well. The world building, back story and introduction of characters didn't flow as nicely as I would have liked and that was a contributing factor in my interest to keep going.

But once it got going, it GOT GOING!

I can't wait for the rest of the series.

I'd like to say I DNF the book and giving it a 3 stars is fair enough. Right in the middle. Here's why I decided to DNF!
- First of all, I thought this book was a bunch of teenagers going to school and exploring magic. Which is great! But they didn't feel mature nor had deep connections. Even the language used and drinking tequila as a Fae really bugged me. This is a personal opinion because some might find it casual but I couldn't stand the fact that Summer was talking to Alice, and the chapter started off with her drinking tequila.
- This book felt very insta lust. I didn't finish this book so I can't comment much about the overall romsnce but what I do know is that 6 percent in a random hot guy came up and kissed her. It's like only looks matter and she went along with it. It's fine to think the guy is hot and it's fine for the guy to also think the girl is hot but why do you need to make out the second you see each other? It doesn't excite me to continue because by 6 percent I assume they're already together!
- Final points before I close off, why did this book need to be 800+ pages? Again I will emphasise that I didn't finish it all BUT...I'm genuinely curious.

I'm terribly sorry if this review seems harsh in any way and this is my personal opinion! I've seen people rave on tiktok about this book so it's a sign it simply wasn't for me, we move on! Though I still wish these authors all the POSSIBLE success! Not because I didn't like it, others can't 💗

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy.