Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Rivals to Lovers, Found Family, Morally Grey Characters, Slowburn Romance

Being a huge fan of the Peaky Blinders TV show and fantasy novels, this book met all my expectations and more! I can't emphasise enough how much I enjoyed reading an adult fantasy book set in a 1920s-like era, featuring powerful families, gangs, and rivalries. "House and Bane and Blood" turned out to be exactly what I didn't realise I was missing until I finished it.

Our main female character, Camilla Marchese, is determined to prevent her family's syndicate, The Iron Saint Railway, from going bankrupt. When Nicolai Attano, the leader of a rival family her own has been feuding with for years, proposes to settle her family's debts in exchange for her hand in marriage, Camilla reluctantly agrees. The witty banter and tension between these characters had me gobbling up every interaction and left me wanting more. Although I was at times frustrated with Camilla’s naivety, she proves herself to be an extremely strong and capable MFC who I hope finds more of herself and who she truly is in book two! You also get a massive insight to her upbringing, which explains a LOT. Nico, my goodness, I have found another book boy to obsess over. His motivations, inner struggles, morally grey choices and dedication to his family had me hooked from the very first pages. Don’t get me started on his devotion and protective tendencies over Camilla, it had me swooning.

The banter between Milla and Nico is EVERYTHING. I’m just as obsessed as I was in my original read!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline of the first part of this duology, and although some of the cliffhangers I saw coming the major one in the end left me gobsmacked. I had to re-read the chapter twice to get a firm understanding of what had just happened. It left me completely distraught! It took me about five to six chapters to fully grasp and comprehend the magic system. Eventually, everything clicked, and I found myself much less confused than when I initially started reading. The world building was PHENOMENAL! Even better the second time around!

Nico and Milla were PERFECTION oh my gosh. This was like if Peaky Blinders met fantasy, and I literally could not get enough. 5 stars all around and I can’t wait to jump straight into book two!

When I saw it was compared to peaky Binders I didn't have much hope as I didn't like the tv show. But I really enjoyed this book. This is mafia and fantasy in one and I liked Nicolai. Camilla married him to save her family business. I did not like her brothers at all. They are just out for themselves.

I always enjoy a mafia romance, arranged marriage and this did not disappoint.
Thank you to NetGalley and @Second Sky for the ebook to review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. I absolutely was enthralled with this story. The magical elements, world building, and character development were perfection! I loved the main character, she was a determined bad ass who fought for what she wanted. Nicolai was extremely swoon worthy- he was giving peaky blinders vibe. Check out this book if you enjoy enemies to lovers, magical elements, and an intense plot! I read this book in one day if that is any indication of how I felt!

Loved this! Cannot wait for the next one. Rivals to lovers is my favorite trope and once I got into this one I was hooked!

I loved this book so much. I went in expecting to enjoy it, but it completely swept me away. The steampunk vibes were perfection, giving me those gritty mafia, gaslight, post-industrial feels that I didn’t even know I was craving.

The worldbuilding is absolutely unique: cartel politics, dark magic threaded with science and alchemy, and rival families playing dangerous games. It felt fresh and vivid, like Peaky Blinders collided with a fantasy mafia world, but with its own distinctive magic system that set it apart.

And let’s talk about Nico, the morally gray MMC of my dreams. He’s dangerous, layered, and exactly the kind of brooding antihero I adore. Pairing him with Camilla, whose fierce determination and fire match him step for step, made for such a crackling dynamic. Their chemistry was electric, all slow-burn tension and sharp banter that had me grinning one second and fanning myself the next.

The marriage of convenience trope always has me hooked, but this book elevated it, forced proximity, power struggles, betrayals, and hidden agendas kept me glued to the page. The mafia family backdrop raised the stakes even higher, making every interaction between Nico and Camilla sizzle with tension.

This is one of those books that deserves way more attention than it’s getting. If you love dark fantasy romance with steampunk vibes, morally gray characters, forbidden family rivalries, and a plot packed with secrets and intrigue, do not sleep on this one. I’m obsessed, and I cannot wait for book two! Thanks to second sky books for the gifted arc!

This book grabbed me by the throat and said, “You’re not sleeping tonight.” And I casually said, “Okay.” I thought I was easing into a chill little fantasy. Instead, I got 1920s mafia, political corruption, enemies-to-lovers heat, steampunk chaos, and a man with a metal hand who ruined my standards permanently. I blinked, and suddenly I was emotionally attached to two morally gray murder babies with trust issues and trauma.

The last 15 percent of this book? Actual violence. Not physical (yet), but emotional. I had to stop what I was doing and immediately start book two because I had reached full crisis mode. Not “hmm I wonder what happens next” crisis. This was “if I don’t find out, I will start pacing like a Victorian widow” energy.

The setup is fantastic. Mafia families. Arranged marriage. Science vs. magic. Political backstabbing. Knife-strapping foreplay. I’m sweating just thinking about it. Camilla and Nico hate each other in a way that makes me feel alive. The banter is sharp, the sexual tension is unbearable, and the power dynamics are basically a contact sport. I didn’t read this book. I devoured it. Possibly blacked out somewhere around chapter 10.

Camilla is a walking threat in the best possible way. She is done taking crap from men. Literally. Her first interaction with her new husband ends with her breaking a whiskey glass over his head. And then later has him kneel to strap her knives to her thighs before a party. I want to be her when I grow up. Or date her. Or both.

Nicolai. My sweet morally gray menace. He steps onto the page and immediately ruins every healthy standard I’ve ever had. He’s cocky, deadly, and somehow still manages to be tender in the most unhinged way. He doesn’t bluff. He protects with ruthless intensity, and his loyalty burns hot enough to destroy anyone who dares to cross her. Also, yes, he has a thing for throats. I’ve accepted it. I support it. I might even encourage it.

Some of his lines made me close the book, stare at the wall, and whisper “sir?”

“Let go of my wife, or you will die tonight”

“I would run through fire and burn for you. I would lose arm and leg and limb. I’d do it all over, knowing what would happen to me, if it meant eventually having you as I do now.”

“A slow smile wandered across his lips. “I like how your hair curls more when it’s damp outside. I like how your hips look in a silk dress. I particularly like the way you say my name when you’re frustrated, as it gives me a hint of how you’d say it in my bed.”
“Nicolai!”
“That’s right. Keep practicing.”

I am not well.

The worldbuilding is elite. We’re talking a post-industrial city divided by class, magic, and technology. Magic users vs. non-magic users who use science to fight back? Yes, please. No recycled tropes. No lazy info dumps. Everything feels intentional and immersive. This book gave me a setting, a plot, a romance, a crisis, a reason to live, and also mild emotional damage.

Add in some found family, hidden identities, political sabotage, and a marriage of convenience that turns into everything, and I am now feral and forever changed.

If Alexis doesn’t write 40 more mafia romantasy novels, I will start a riot. I need more immediately. No notes. No thoughts. Just vibes and emotional devastation.

I enjoyed the characters and the slow-burn romance, but I found the world-building a bit confusing and the pacing uneven. Some dialogue didn’t sit well with me. It was an okay read, but I’m not sure I’d continue the series.

I loved this book so much! The tropes made me love the book even more! its exactly what I read! There was pieces missing with the plot to pull it perfectly together though. Camilla and Nicolai were amazing! They were quite literally made for each other!

This was a fast, fun, easy read. Camilla and Nico enter into an arranged marriage. Camilla needs this to save her family's railroad empire from bankruptcy. Nico needs help with keeping the crime in his city under control. These rivals form and alliance that's supposed to be for business.
Slowly, but surely pleasure starts to enter the equation.
The setting of this book is post industrial age with Peaky Blinders gaslamp vibes. We have a strong FMC that plays no games and also a bad ass MMC with morally grey tendencies, but is also a cinnamon roll serving touch her and die vibes.
The plot was well paced and easy to follow with lovable male and female protagonists. Slow burn, lies, secrets, rivaling mafia-esque families, found family, found magic, interesting magic system.
This ends on a cliffhanger and Ilook forward to reading the next book in this series.
Thank you #NetGalley and #SecondSkyForeverBooks for a free audio arc of #HouseOfBaneAndBlood

The only Peaky Blinderish about this is the guys' clothing but mostly it is a mafia family type drama but with magic. The strength here lies in the two main characters. Nico and Camilla are very good leads, but they are not served well by the "everything everywhere all at once" chaos of the story.

Really original fantasy romance. It’s giving mafia vibes even though it’s not(?) It’s dark, it has rival families, with areas of the city controlled by each of them, and their respective businesses.
The magic system is really interesting and original but I feel like we could have delved a little bit more into the houses, it’s still a bit unclear to me how it works I think it was only described once.

Loved the characters of Camilla and Nicolai, both are well-developed, have a backstory, they have a lot of chemistry and banter and for once it’s not an enemies to lovers they are from rival families but like each other since the beginning which was refreshing! I’m honestly surprised this is not more well known on booktok!
The ending though??? Brutal cliffhanger

Tropes
- arranged marriage
- who did this to you
- where is my wife
- tending to wounds
- rivals-to-lovers
- political intrigue

3 ⭐

I went into House of Bane and Blood with the promise of Peaky Blinders vibes, rivals/enemies to love and a unique story. And it felt like I absolutely got that!

By the end of the third chapter I was super excited for the rest of the story.

I really enjoyed both Camila's and Nicolai's characters, I've always enjoyed a marriage of convenience romance and this one delivered it so well!

I would have given House of Bane and Blood 4 ⭐, however, I really struggled with the repeated use of the word Daddy throughout the book. It popped up multiple times and each time it unfortunately took me right out of the story and it made it really hard to reconnect with the story afterwards.

Overall, I really enjoyed House of Bane and Blood, but a few personal hang-ups kept it from being a complete hit for me.
I’d still absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different in their fantasy romance.

I would like to thank NetGalley for an ARC for an honest review!

This was a darker Romantasy with steampunk elements mixed with gods-blessed remnant magic. The relationship development for a marriage of convenience was perfect, they both equally rescued the other and though they had their secrets to keep they were willing to work with one another. I loved the tension and the twists in the relationship balances at the end. It ended on a pretty big cliffhanger, but with some hope left; I’m glad I can go straight to book two.

4.5 ⭐️ So beyond happy to see this being traditionally published, it deserves all the love and more 🤍

A big thank you to NetGalley, Second Sky Books and Alexis L. Menard for the approved eARC.

If you’re someone interested in a Peaky Blinders feeling fantasy romance, this book is the one for you!

The vibes throughout the book were immaculate, and the reveals kept me on the edge of my seat. The marriage of convenience between Nico and Milla was absolutely delicious as they navigated their family tensions and the slow, gradual feelings they developed for each other. The overarching storyline was also super intriguing as you learn more about the bending abilities.

Highly recommend this one.

Peaky Blinders vibes x marriage of convenience + magic … hell yeah

Excuse me while I never stop screaming about my book husband, Nico Attano. From the very first time our MCs interact, we can see the chemistry and I squealed when he showed up at Cam’s house (iykyk).

For me, Romantasy has to be the perfect balance of plot and spice, and House of Bane and Blood delivered.

Do yourself a favour and dive into this completed duology. It’s def now a fav. OK now time for a reread.

Review posted to Goodreads, Indigo and Amazon.ca

House of Bane and Blood by Alexis L. Menard is a dark, thrilling fantasy where magic and mafia politics collide. Camilla, heir to her struggling railway empire, is forced into a marriage with Nicolai Attano, a powerful rival with elemental magic, to protect her family. As they navigate danger, political intrigue, and a series of kidnappings, sparks fly between them in a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance. The story is packed with tension, vivid world-building, and intense chemistry, making it an exciting, immersive read for anyone who loves dark romance with magic and high stakes.

This was a really unique read that put a different spin on your average fantasy books with a steampunk / Peaky Blinders vibe

We have an arranged marriage between rival families and the tension between Camilla and Nicolai was *chefs kiss* 🤌🏼🤌🏼 the loathing and the banter was everything you’d want out of rivals forced to marry to protect their families, and when the spicy scenes inevitably came they were so so satisfying 🥵🥵

Nicolai is a GREAT book boyfriend, he’s morally grey & will do anything to protect the ones he loves. He’s sexy and seductive and witty and I just neeeeeddd more

I will say the rivals to lovers aspect of this book felt like bit of a flip of a switch. It didn’t really take away from my enjoyment of the book because there was so much else going on, but I wish there was a more definable moment that set them down that path and that it wasn’t just an all of a sudden instance

The plot twists in this book were SO WELL DONE! The ending had my JAW ON THE FLOOR! I suspected something, but it didn’t play out like I thought it did and I LOVE being taken by surprise

Thank you Second Sky and Alexis L. Menard for the review copy of this book. House of Bane & Blood is being republished on September 9th with a GORGEOUS new cover you’ll absolutely want on your bookshelf

I first read House of Bane and Blood in November of 2023 when it was indie published, and it was just as fun and entertaining this time around ahead of its trad publishing date.

In a city split between those with remnants (read: powers/abilities) and those without, HOBAB follows two rival families who come together in a shaky alliance, while both sides hold their secrets close to their chests. Camilla is the heir to the railway company on one side of the river, while Nico’s family rules the other. In addition to their marriage of convenience and subsequent payments by Nico’s family to cover the railway’s debts, Camilla agrees to help Nico try and uncover who is kidnapping those with powers on his side of the river. As Nico and Camilla work together, they find that keeping their feelings in check for what is supposed to be short term agreement is harder than they expected.

The magic system in this book is easy to understand and interesting, and Menard does a good job of explaining it in a way that doesn’t take away from the plot. Camilla is such a spitfire - especially to Nico - and I love both her stubbornness, but also how far she’s willing to go to protect those she cares about, even if they don’t necessarily deserve it.

Nico is so complex, and also is doing his best to protect his family, and by extension, Camilla after he suffered considerably as a teenager. Of course, those struggles manifest in HOBAB as secrets that he’s desperate to keep hidden, not only for his sake, but to keep others safe as well.

This book has some of my favorite tropes (marriage of convenience, he falls first, secret powers revealed at the most inopportune time) and ends on a cliffhanger that will hurt and also leave you desperate to read the sequel.

I’m so excited that one of my favorite romantasy series is being trad published and would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys the above tropes, plus a whole lot of mayhem.

Thank you to NetGalley, Second Sky, and Alexis Menard for the opportunity to read this book (again) ahead of its publishing date in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Arc Review!!

Tropes: peaky blinders vibes, marriage of convenience, grishaverse magic, enemies to lovers

That ending will haunt me for the rest of the month omg! This book is the perfect mixture between steampunk peaky blinder vibes and a magic system that resembles the grishaverse. You follow both of the main characters as they navigate a marriage of convenience while working together to find a criminal threatening the city called The Collector. Can they hunt down this killer before its too late?

Thank you so much NetGalley for the e-ARC!!