This book was so good! The word building was interesting, with unique characters, and a great storyline. I can’t wait to read the next book, I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

Wow, completely took me by surprise! This book turns brutality into beauty.
Such a magical, vivid & rich world - I was hesitant starting a book in the desert - assuming it would be barren & scarce. But the desert herself was a character in her own right - so rich, varied and vivid. The writing was beautiful & was immediately immersed into the strange, mysterious world, so much atmosphere - I loved it.

Also - the horses were done so well - they weren't an accessory to the story with ridiculous and unrealistic descriptions. As such a central part of life in the setting, this would have been real make or break for me as someone who works with horses.

Keera may be one of my favourite FMCs - gritty, damaged, feeling and yet so human.
The Viper, just *chefs kiss *. Holy, sweet, sweet tension! Mysterious, conflicted & unrelenting.
I loved the imperfections of both, they were so raw. Not two perfect pieces, slotting together seamlessly or neatly but seemed truly born of their world, the push & pull between the two the real magic of this story.

I'll add to my review more tomorrow as its currently 2.30am and I could not put this book down! But I've already requested the arc of book 2!!

Thank you to Netgalley and S.C.Grayson for the arc.

First of all, gorgeous cover.
The initial chapters were a bit of a mess—confusing, to say the least. (I even mistook the Viper for Keera... I know, I know, that was on me 😅.)
I’ve read quite a few books with desert settings, and while this one was harder to follow at times, it still kept me interested. That said, the first half nearly had me DNF’ing. But I pushed through—and the second half was definitely better.
The ending was great, and I’m curious to see what happens next!

This book had so many elements that I love: enemies to lovers, deadly trials, animal sidekicks, a moody broody MMC, and a fierce and stabby FMC. The progression of the characters' relationship from enemies to lovers was perfect and exemplifies why it's my favorite trope. I loved both of these characters so much and I think Grayson injected the perfect amount of vulnerability and realness into them without making them insufferable. I also loved that it was dual POV so we can get to know each character so much better. Grayson also does a wonderful job of building up to the spicy scenes and incorporating them into the story. I highly recommend you read this if you like any kind of romantasy - especially enemies to lovers. I can't wait to continue to the story because I know the next book is going to be even better.
Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for a copy of the book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A compelling romantasy set against a vivid desert backdrop, with a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers arc and a strong dose of political tension and ancient magic.

Think Rey and Kylo Ren but in the desert, with a sprinkle of ancient magic and a healthy dose of unresolved tension. Keera is fierce, guarded, and relatable; the Viper is masked, cryptic, broody, and clearly fighting the urge to pine. A great time once you get past the warm-up laps.

Keera’s journey unfolds gradually, and the dual POV adds depth without breaking momentum. The desert setting is a real standout—harsh, beautiful, and steeped in power (sentient desert yes please!) The magic system feels grounded and purposeful, not just decorative.

The pacing is slower in the first third, and I did struggle to get into it at first, but once the plot gains momentum, it’s worth the patience. Some side characters and world lore could use a bit more fleshing out, but overall this is a strong story with a promising setup for the series ahead..

The Great Stuff:
💥 That worldbuilding? Rich and sun-scorched. The desert feels alive—like it’s watching you and low-key judging your life choices.
🦂 Dual POV that actually works. Both Keera and the Viper have weight behind their choices, and the emotional pull is strong.
🔥 The romance doesn’t rush. It simmers. It taunts. It absolutely delivers on the tension front.
✨ Magic system is cool and cohesive, tied to the land rather than just tossed in for vibes. Loved that.

As a female from North Africa I loved the setting and felt represented in a story for once.

All in all charred hearts, desert magic, and a taut enemies-to-lovers dance make this a pitch-perfect read—just be ready to commit before the fireworks really fly

I’ll definitely be continuing the series—especially after that cliffhanger.

I don’t know how to best explain it but a lot of this book seemed unnecessary while also still feeling necessary. I can’t pick out specific sections but it just felt like it dragged on at some points especially in the first half. I enjoyed the second half more and I’d say the ending saved it for me. I’ll give book 2 a shot and see if the series gets better. I’m giving it 3 stars because for me personally, anything below 3 stars means it was either completely, or almost completely unenjoyable which this was not that. I still had fun reading it but I’m not sure I’d recommend it to anyone unfortunately.

I went into this book really wanting to love it. The premise had so much potential: a unique desert-based magic system, a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, intense trials, and a female main character who grows from vulnerable to powerful. All the elements I usually enjoy were there—but sadly, the execution didn’t quite land for me.

The pacing felt off. While the story started slowly, it also jumped abruptly from scene to scene, making it hard to stay engaged. I considered DNFing multiple times but decided to push through. The last 20% is where it got interesting, but it didn’t feel like enough to compensate for the earlier 80%.

The worldbuilding was a bit underdeveloped. It had hints of intriguing elements, particularly around desert magic and horses—but they were never really explained or expanded upon, leaving me feeling unanchored in the world.

The romance didn’t appear until the very end, and by then, it felt rushed. I think placing it earlier in the story and allowing more tension to build would have created a stronger emotional payoff.

Keera, the FMC, has an interesting backstory as an exiled survivor, but her sudden access to resources and quick recovery felt a bit too convenient.

Erix, the MMC, had intriguing potential but remained underdeveloped. We get glimpses of his past, but not enough to give him the depth I was hoping for.

The Reylo inspiration is very strong in this book, but I must confess that finding out it is inspired by them is what kept me going.

Pushing through most of this book, I will say that towards the end of the trials and onwards (roughly from 70%) is where it gets a bit more fast-paced with romance and action.

S.C. Grayson is good at painting a picture with words, and I would definitely like to see what this author writes in the future.

thank you, netgalley, for this arc

Blood of the Sands has a promising premise—desert magic, an ancient bond, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers arc—but ultimately didn’t fully deliver for me. While the writing is clean and the setting is intriguing, I struggled with the plot and character development.

Keera is introduced as a survivor with grit, but much of her journey feels overly convenient. Within days of arriving in a new city, she’s given elite training, prime accommodations, and a role of political significance with little resistance or explanation. Her progression in combat and magic happens so quickly that it strains believability, especially given her backstory as an isolated exile.

Erix (the Viper) is positioned as a powerful, haunted antagonist with mysterious origins, but we get very little substance behind his actions or motives. His rationale for wanting a war feels very thin and illogical, especially when Keera points out the flaws in his thinking.

For a romantasy, the romance isn’t at all present for the first half of the book. There’s minimal interaction between the leads until quite late. In addition, the first half of the book is slow and I feel like about 10 chapters could have been summarized and cut to help with pacing. The plot does pick up around the 50-70% mark when the trials begin, so if you can hang on until then, there’s that. There’s a solid cliffhanger ending for readers invested in the long game, and the concept of a stolen magical heart at the root of a desert’s fury has potential.

This could appeal to fans of desert-set fantasy who enjoy fast-paced reads and enemies-to-lovers dynamics, but readers looking for strong character development or a deeper romantic arc may find it lacking

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4,5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read Blood of the Sands in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A sentient desert 🌵, ancient magic ✨, and a true enemies-to-lovers romance ❤️‍🔥? Yes, please. Set against scorching sands and nomadic warrior clans 🏜️🐪, this fantasy pulled me in from the start—especially during a real-life heatwave ☀️🔥 (perfect timing!).

There’s training, deadly trials, and tension galore 💪⚔️, and the slow-burn romance? Whew. It’s real enemies-to-lovers—danger, distrust, heat, and plenty of tension along the way 🔥💘. I especially loved how the MMC wrestled with his duty, power, and growing connection to FMC, while FMC herself remains strong, fiery, and grounded.

I’m already looking forward to the sequel 📚. This was a gripping desert fantasy with heart, heat, and just the right amount of magic 🧡.

#BloodOfTheSands #NetGalley

INSTA REVIEW WILL GO LIVE BY 27/07.25
I really enjoyed Blood of the Sands. The world is vivid and original—especially the desert, which feels like a living, breathing presence throughout the book. It’s mysterious, intense, and deeply immersive, with that sense of something ancient and powerful just beneath the surface.

I’ll admit, I saw a “Reylo” comparison mentioned at the start of the book and it stuck in my head in a way I wish it hadn’t. It coloured how I saw the FMC especially, and pulled me out of the story at times—because I don’t want to read fanfic echoes, I want to experience these characters on their own terms. And honestly? Without that nudge, I don’t think the comparison would ever have occurred to me.

That said, I loved the dynamic between the two leads. Both are shaped by past trauma—left wounded and emotionally isolated, often coping in destructive ways—and watching them slowly circle each other was like a paso doble dance: intense, deliberate, and impossible to look away from. There’s a beautiful tenderness that grows between them, in a world where tenderness feels like a luxury. The romance is slow-burn and earned, more “I just realised I can’t live without you” than swoony declarations—and all the better for it.

There’s high-stakes tension, secrets and political scheming, and a broader world that feels hostile and wild, forcing the characters to make hard choices with very little control over their fates. One thing that stood out was Erix’s lasting anger toward his parents—it felt a little emotionally stuck, considering how many years have passed—but I can see how Lord Alasdair’s manipulation may play into that.

✨ If you love romantasy with emotional weight, vividly drawn settings, slow-burn romance with real bite, and characters who’ve suffered but still find something worth holding on to—this one’s for you.

Arc Review!!

Tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, SLOW BURN, desert magic/powers, fated mates,

So incredibly grateful to have been approved for this arc after seeing the netgalley posting for the second book coming out soon! This book was beyond anything that I had been expecting and I loved every moment of it. I won't lie, I absolutely flew through this book in a day!

This book follows an exile by the name of Keera who tries to steal from the wrong man, a masked warrior that goes by The Viper, when he awakens a slumbering magic within her. Brought back to be a sacrifice, she escapes with knowledge of their plans that may lead to a war against the great city of Kelvadan and she is their only hope of getting a head start.

Thank you so much NetGalley and S.C. Grayson for the e-ARC!

⭐️4.5 - I don't know if I can find the words to rate this. It was amazing, it was so rich and beautiful and teeming with life and love and loss and what it means to be human. I have never read a more enemies to lovers who thought they were different but were truly one in the same than this. I loved every part of the story. It moved fast and there was always something happening. It had rich world building that wasn't too complicated, it had two sides of a war and beautifully blurred the lines of who's in the right. The slow burn had me blushing and falling so deeply in love with these characters. The twists were shocking and kept on coming through this. Everything felt thought out and payed off amazingly.
My only gripe and problem with this book was how it was written. It felt repetitive in several spots, and things would be mentioned a specific way in the beginning of the story, then slightly altered later. The writing felt inconsistent at times and drew me out of the story at points. But ultimately this story gripped me in a way I have not been with Romantasy in such a long time. I absolutely recommend this book!

ARC Review
Blood of the Sands by S.C. Grayson

Blood of the Sands is an immersive, magic-drenched fantasy set in a desert world crackling with danger, secrets, and slow-burning tension. Think enemies-to-lovers meets ancient magic, with a fiercely independent heroine and a tortured masked warrior destined to cross paths again—and again.

Keera, a hardened exile doing what she must to survive, is instantly compelling. She’s prickly, stubborn, and capable—but when a failed robbery awakens powers she didn’t know she had, her world shifts. Her link to the Viper—the feared, magic-tormented general she tried to rob—becomes the story’s core tension, and it simmers.

The Viper is a fantastic foil: brutal yet broken, teetering between menace and vulnerability. Every interaction between him and Keera is taut with intensity, mistrust, and that delicious feeling that something deeper might be buried under all that hostility.

🌵 What I loved:
• The desert setting is lush, harsh, and well-built—every grain of sand feels alive with magic and mystery.
• The pacing is solid, balancing action and internal conflict well.
• The dual POV adds emotional depth—especially seeing the cost of power through the Viper’s unraveling sanity.
• The magic system is intriguing, tied to land, emotion, and legacy.

⚔️ What I think could be improved:
• Some of the worldbuilding could use more clarity early on—especially political factions and magical lore.
• A few secondary characters blurred together, and I’d love more time spent with Keera’s allies.
• The romantic tension is excellent, but the emotional beats between Keera and the Viper could have been stretched further for even more payoff.

🔥 Final thoughts:
If you love desert fantasy, morally grey magic users, or heroines who fight tooth and nail for their place in the world, Blood of the Sands will draw you in like a mirage—and leave you thirsty for book two.

This was an entertaining read and a unique experience (at least for me) due to the magic system being based around the desert and “her” gifting various powers to the humans that call her home. Quite a bit of this journey is spent wandering the desert, so it is slow at times, but I also found it a bit fascinating, especially since the author added an additional fantasy aspect by “bringing back” creatures of legend that had been gone. I did find this book intriguing and I enjoyed the storytelling aspect, but it’s a 3.75-4 star read for me because I felt it could have been developed more in several areas. While Keera and The Viper were the most developed, there were still many unanswered questions and while their bond worked for me at the end of the book, the actual GETTING there, didn’t really work for me. I think it may have been done on purpose, but the horses actually seemed more developed than a lot of the side characters and some of the story aspects felt a little off. But all in all, it’s a book I would recommend and I will definitely continue on with the series.

What a gem of a story! Blood of the Sands by S.C. Grayson completely swept me away with its rich desert setting, sizzling slow-burn romance, and unique magic system.

The story follows Keera, an exiled thief just trying to survive, and the masked warrior known only as the Viper. When a violent encounter between them awakens strange magic in Keera, they’re pulled into opposite sides of a war brewing across the Ballan desert. As tensions rise and loyalties blur, the ancient bond forming between them might be the only thing that can save or doom them both.

One of my favorite things about this book is how alive the desert feels. It's more than a backdrop, it’s a character in its own right. The desert is harsh, mysterious, and sometimes cruel, but also deeply loved by both protagonists. The magic system is beautifully tied to it, and I loved the inclusion of desert creatures and how the land itself seemed to have a will of its own. It felt so fresh compared to typical fantasy settings!

We get both Keera's and the Viper's POVs, and I adored both! Keera is a fierce survivor who just wants a place to belong, while the Viper is desperate to find someone he can truly trust. Their romance is one of the highlights of the book! It’s a true enemies-to-lovers slow burn that sizzles. Their chemistry builds through shared dreams, mutual respect, and deep emotional connection. By the end, they would do anything for each other. Especially the Viper... he is so down bad, and I loved every second of it! (Also, as someone picky about spice, I really enjoyed it 👀)

The worldbuilding was solid, too. We get glimpses of life in both the desert clans and the city of Kelvadan (plus some insight into what happens outside of the desert), and I appreciated how morally complex both sides of the war were. There’s no clear “right” or “wrong,” which made the political tension more engaging.

My only real critique is the pacing. While the book starts strong, it's only around the 40% mark that it really picks up. The middle section felt a bit slow, and the final climax, while intense, lost a bit of momentum. Still, the ending left me eager for more, and luckily I have the ARC of the sequel!

Highly recommend if you love emotionally-charged fantasy romance, solid worldbuilding, and complex, passionate characters!

✨тнє ∂єѕєят gινєѕ αи∂ тнє ∂єѕєят тαкєѕ✨

I just finished my ARC last night and OMG!! It left me wanting more!! Keera & The Vipers complicated relationship will give you alllll the feelings! & the ending 😭😭 I can’t believe that happened!!

The Ballan desert is unforgiving to all, especially when she has not received blood in return for the life she gives. The Viper is blessed with the desert’s magic & will do anything necessary to save her, including killing anyone who will not join his leader’s cause. Keera is an exile who has been used to protecting & fending for herself. When the Viper comes across the oasis where she lives, he unlocks something within her. They are both on different sides of the war that’s brewing, but they can’t deny the strange connection between them. Will this war tear them apart or will they put their differences aside for the sake of the desert?

Blood of the Sands is for you if you like:
⏳ 𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤
⏳𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕔𝕖𝕕 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕩𝕚𝕞𝕚𝕥𝕪
⏳𝕗𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤
⏳𝕤𝕝𝕠𝕨 𝕓𝕦𝕣𝕟
⏳𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕪 𝕄𝕄ℂ

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡: a cup of coffee
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ — slow burn heat built on desert magic and intense connection
𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧: Late summer into early fall — windswept dunes, golden light, and unforgettable nights
𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝? ✅ Yes, absolutely — grab this one immediately

📚 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞:
•Exotic, immersive settings with grit and grandeur
•Magic-infused romance with high emotional stakes
•Fierce, resilient heroines & dark, protective love interests
•Tension-filled enemies-to-allies relationships
•Gritty worldbuilding, political intrigue, and scorching slow burn
•Rich myth, redemption arcs, and survival through passion

💭 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

Blood of the Sands completely captivated me from the first page. The worldbuilding is vivid and atmospheric. The magic in this story is potent and woven into every thread of the plot, giving everything weight and wonder.

The romance between the main characters grows on embers: slow, intense, and utterly inevitable. You feel every glance, every touch. The emotional payoff is deeply earned built on shared trauma, survival, and the undeniable spark of two souls colliding under impossible odds.

The heroine is fierce, smart, and unafraid to fight for her people. The hero is dark, protective, and layered with hidden pain. Their dynamic arcs beautifully from conflict to trust to something passionate and transformative.

This book balanced gritty adventure, political intrigue, and a love story that burns. I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend.

🌵 4 Stars – A slow-burn desert fantasy where the heat isn’t just from the sun 🔥

Let’s take a fierce, exiled desert survivor, throw her into a fateful trial with a fanatical desert warrior in a mask, add a touch of human sacrifice, a whole lot of unresolved tension, and set it all under a sun that never stops judging.

Keera has spent a decade surviving the harsh desert alone after her exile—no small feat. When she tries to steal from the Viper (masked enforcer of the zealot leading clan Katal), things go south fast. She’s marked for human sacrifice in the charming tradition of the New Moon, but Keera—being stubborn, clever, and not particularly into dying— magically escapes to Kelvadan, the vibrant city part of the clans call an abomination.

In Kelvadan, exiles aren’t shunned—and apparently the Queen takes an interest in fugitives and allows Keera to train for the Riders of Kelvadan and subsequently to enter the trials for the Desert Champion, which only happen every 20 years. Guess who else is competing? That’s right: the Viper. Still masked. Still unreadable. Still confusingly compelling.

The tension between them is exquisite in that I-want-to-stab-you-or-maybe-kiss-you way, and the slow burn is… very slow. Like, mirage-on-the-horizon slow. But once it starts to crackle? It scorches. Their connection is laced with equal parts danger, history, and some other unspoken bond that even they don’t understand yet.

The desert setting is incredibly vivid—you can feel the sand in your boots and the sun on your neck—and the magic system is strange, subtle, and clearly tied to a bigger arc we’re only beginning to glimpse. Don’t expect clear answers yet, and definitely don’t expect closure: this book leaves you dangling off a cliff like it’s personal.

What works: Complex leads, masked mystery, enemies-to-lovers done with real emotional stakes, and a rich world that doesn’t spoon-feed you.
What doesn’t: If you’re not here for a long-game romance, you might suffer heatstroke waiting. Some parts are a bit slow.

If you love your romantasy laced with sharp edges and masked enemies who may or may not be your destiny, grab this one. And maybe some aloe. You’ll need it.

This story was an absolute pleasure to read, captivating me from the very first page! I was particularly drawn to the female protagonist, whose journey is compelling from the outset. It's clear she seriously underestimates her own capabilities, but the narrative masterfully reveals her innate resilience and strength. The sheer fact that she managed to survive for so long out in that harsh, unforgiving environment alone is a testament to the incredible toughness that's just beginning to surface. You can truly see how formidable she's going to become.

Beyond the compelling characters, the world-building is equally fascinating. The concept of the land itself bestowing magic upon chosen individuals is incredibly unique and well-executed. It's not a generic power; rather, the desert itself acts as a sentient entity, selecting those worthy. And the idea that recipients don't get a 'set piece' of magic, but the 'full force of all the desert has,' is truly brilliant. It suggests a dynamic, raw, and powerful connection that promises endless possibilities and grand-scale magic.

The dynamic between the two main characters is another major highlight. Their evolving relationship is clearly a cornerstone of the plot, and the "back and forth war" you mention is absolutely captivating. It adds layers of tension, intrigue, and even a hint of undeniable chemistry that keeps you guessing about their next move. This push-and-pull makes for a truly engaging narrative, keeping me invested in every interaction.

Overall, this story delivers on multiple fronts: strong character work, an innovative and powerful magic system, and a compelling central relationship brimming with conflict and chemistry. I thoroughly enjoyed this journey and am eager to see where these characters and this incredible world go next!

😍😍 had so much fun reading this book!!
Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Dual POV
Fated Mates
Slow burn
Morally gray
Keera is an exile struggling to survive When she steals from the wrong man Viper who is vicious masked warrior. His hand around her throat awakens an ancient magic within her this allows her to escape and warn and protect Kelvaden City.
Highly recommend!! 🥰