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.