I really enjoyed this book! The world was dark and full of danger, and the tension between Milla and Nico kept me hooked from start to finish.

Milla is strong and stubborn, but Nico… wow. He’s dangerous, protective, and absolutely delicious. Milla is a lucky lady. Their banter and chemistry was perfect!

Overall it was a fun and addictive read. I’ll definitely be picking up the next one.

3.5 🌟 thank you to netgalley for giving me an early Arc. This was a fun ride into a mafia family with lots of drama and then a mmc who can't let the fmc go. I am intrigued for book 2

I will start off by saying this had some of the BEST tension and banter I have read in a book. I was giggling and kicking my feet at the interactions between Nico and Milla. Their chemistry was sizzling! Everyone says this book reminds them of Peaky Blinders, which I have not seen, but feel like I need to start after enjoying this book so much. I was a bit confused at times with some of the world building, but I could not get enough of Nico and Milla. This was a super quick binge for me, and I can't wait to read book 2. I highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this mafia family take on romantasy. From the get go you are fully absorbed in the FMC & MC love story, which is the main focus of the plot. There are several sub plots, some which tie in together and others that don't, but still have their place. I do wish that the relationships between the FMC and her brothers was explained in more detail in this book. It did feel like things happened with them just for the sake of the plot development. Where as if they'd been given a deeper background or connection, I think they'd have held up to the reader scrutiny. The book has been left quite open ended, with a few "what the heck" and "huhhhhh" moments, and I'm quite excited to read the second. This book came through as an ARC from netgalley, but both this and its sequel are already published, so I'm a tad confused as to why it's an ARC. I absolutely will jump into book 2 and I would recommend this to any mafia/romantasy fan!

Dual pov
Enemies to lovers
Marriage of convenience\duty

This is a great story with a completely new new kind of magic system. Even though it couls have been elaborated a bit more I was still able to grasp the different abilities. The chemistry between Nico and Milla is sizzling and the banter is awesome. It is a real enemies to lovers where they dont even kiss until more than half of the book. This was one of the biggest surprise reads of this year. The pacing is perfect, plot is well-developed and the characters a relatable and have a strong background story. The cliffhanger at the end was wild. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for sure!!

This was such a good time! House of Bane and Blood ticked so many boxes of what I liked: an arranged marriage with banter that’s bantering, rival families where scheming is their second nature, action and twists that kept me turning the pages and some curious magic.

I adored the two MCs together - their chemistry was undeniable and delicious. Camilla has big boss energy and a sharp tongue that made me laugh out loud with her come backs :D While they were all tough and sarcastic i also enjoyed seeing their vulnerable sides because that made the characters and their actions believable to me.

The atmosphere of this book is supposed to be like peaky blinders (which I haven’t watched) so I don’t know how accurate that is, BUT from excerpts I did see I can say it does check out regarding atmosphere, clothing etc.

The pacing made this such an easy, unputdownable read and while I did see some of the twists coming others

Wow! I knew within two chapters that this was going to be a 5star read!

It felt so original compared to your ‘normal’ romantasy.
Mafia, peaky blinders, the magic through bloodlines just all amazing. This book is one of the rare books that has both an incredible plot and a brilliant slow burn romance! The tension and yearning!🥵

I will be reading book two immediately!

Camilla (Milla) Machese is an heiress to the most notorious family in Lynchaven. Nicolai (Nico) Attano is the leader of a rival family, blessed (or burdened) with remnant magic. When Nico proposes a marriage between the two, Milla has a plan brewing.

I loved rereading this, as I originally read an arc of the self-published version and I loved it just as much on my reread!!

This is for you if you love:

✨ marriage of convenience
✨ foul-mouthed morally grey MMC
✨ peaky blinders
✨ grishaverse type magic
✨ rivals to lovers
✨ spicy romance

I LOVE the setting of this one! Post-industrial age, with a wonderful magic system that I feel was pretty unique despite being inspired by others.

Milla is a really great protagonist to read from. She is strong-willed but is actually very reasonable and open to learning, especially learning more about her betrothed's family. I enjoy that she has her own agency and is very much in control of her own destiny (when possible). In fact, I think Nico is the damsel in distress for the most part and Milla has to save him - several times.

Nico is just AHHHHHHH. The art of him is also fantastic. He is very "Where is my wife?" and I think that is perfect. His backstory hurts and I just want him to be happy.

I really enjoyed that there is more to the plot than just their romance as well. There's trouble brewing in the background and Milla is at the centre of it.

Thank you to Second Sky for an advanced copy of this one, all opinions are my own!

First off I have never seen Peaky Blinders and nor am I very familiar with a mafia romance genre. I do love a good fantasy, but I feel like many of them start to feel the same. I love the idea of this fantasy romance, mixed mafia, and I think it was executed so well. The vibes were immaculate. I loved our FMC Camilla and our MMC Nikolai, their tension and banter was spot on and I was interested in what was about to happen next the entire book. Obsessed! I am excited to read book 2.

I binged this right after peaky blinders and hot damn, it filled every carnal craving I had after watching it.

4.5 stars!!!

I absolutely loved Milla and Nico! And yes...I would call Nico "Daddy" too. I simped so hard for this man! I loved the character progression and the marriage of convenience trope was done SO WELL! The steampunk setting and the metal hand was such a vibe. I need book 2 ASAP...

I'm thrilled to hear that the first two books in this series are focusing on Milla and Nico, while the latter two will be on another couple - I wonder who?!

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky/Forever for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

✨Arc Review✨

Thank you to the author Alexis L. Menard and Netgallery for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Not all cages are built with bars.” Some, like mine, were made from the shackles of duty and the chains of domestic obligations.”

House of Bane and Blood is a dark and atmospheric romantasy that plunges readers into a gritty, steampunk-inspired world filled with magic, mafia politics, and dangerous secrets. At its heart is Camilla "Milla" Marchese, an heiress struggling to save her crumbling family syndicate. Her reluctant marriage to Nicolai Attano, the leader of a rival house, sets the stage for an enemies-to-lovers dynamic steeped in tension, snark, and slow-burning desire.

There’s a lot to admire here—Menard’s world-building is immersive and vivid, with the city of Caligo practically pulsing with smoke, steam, and suppressed violence. The atmosphere is perfect for readers who enjoy morally grey characters operating in a morally murky world. The magic system, rooted in “remnant” powers, adds another layer of intrigue, and the political maneuverings between the houses create a compelling backdrop for the romance.

Milla and Nicolai are the driving force of the novel, and their chemistry is palpable from the start. Their dynamic is filled with sharp dialogue, reluctant trust, and a sense of emotional tension that pays off as the story unfolds. Milla, in particular, stands out as a smart, fierce heroine who walks the line between duty and independence, while Nicolai’s brooding intensity adds just the right amount of shadow to their pairing.

However, the novel isn’t without its flaws. The middle portion drags somewhat, with pacing that slows the momentum built in the opening chapters. While the romantic arc is satisfying, it leans heavily into well-worn tropes—arranged marriage, forced proximity, rivals-to-lovers—and readers looking for something more original may feel a sense of predictability setting in. Additionally, some secondary characters and plot threads felt underdeveloped, possibly being reserved for later installments in the series.

This is a book that knows its audience well: fans of dark fantasy romance will find familiar comforts in its structure, character types, and tone. It’s not overly explicit, but it doesn’t shy away from mature themes either, including violence, trauma, and political manipulation, which might not be for everyone.

In the end, House of Bane and Blood is an enjoyable, if imperfect, debut to what promises to be a gripping series. While it didn’t fully blow me away, I appreciated the strong character work, the darkly enchanting setting, and the emotional beats of the romance. A solid three stars—recommended for fans of morally complex love stories in fantasy worlds with grit, grime, and plenty of heart.

💍 Arranged Marriage / Marriage of Convenience

The central plot kicks off with Camilla and Nicolai being forced into a strategic, politically motivated marriage to avoid war between their mafia-like Houses.

👥 Enemies-to-Lovers

Camilla and Nicolai start off on opposite sides of a bitter rivalry. Their journey from distrust and hostility to reluctant allies—and ultimately something deeper—is a classic slow-burn.

🗡️ Mafia / Crime Syndicate Politics

Think steampunk mob families with a magical twist. House alliances, betrayal, loyalty, and power games play a major role in the backdrop of their romance.

⚙️ Steampunk/Dark Fantasy Setting

The world is industrial and gritty—complete with trains, steam-powered tech, smoky cities, and remnants of old magic—creating a moody, immersive atmosphere.

🧬 Family Loyalty vs. Personal Desire

Camilla, in particular, wrestles with the burden of family duty versus her own identity, goals, and desires. This internal conflict adds emotional depth.

I absolutely fell in love with these characters and the world they live in. The found family and rivals to lovers tropes are so good. I can’t wait to see where the story of Milla and Nico goes.

The vibes were 10/10! 1920s mafia meets fantasy romance with magic, competing bloodlines, and a marriage of convenience.
The main characters had great chemistry and I loved their cheeky banter! The politics and mysteries kept me engaged and guessing, and the end had my jaw on the floor! I need book 2!!!
Overall, this was a really refreshing take on fantasy romance and felt totally unique. It reminded me of Grishaverse meets Crescent city in a way? If you’re looking for something to mix it up, this should be at the top of your list!

Favorite quotes below 👇🏼

“‘Not all cages are built with bars.’ Some, like mine, were made from the shackles of duty and the chains of domestic obligations.”

“There’s no chance I’ll walk away from this unscathed. Not anymore.”

“Wear your black tweed with the silver pocket square. It matches your stupid eyes.”

Thank you Second Sky and Netgalley for the arc.

This was exactly what I needed. 1920s era with magic. Think Peaky Blinders meets Shadow Bone/Six of Crows with one of the best tropes - a marriage of convenience.

There's mafia, magic and a steampunk world all set in the 1920s. It felt like something I hadn't read before. I absolutely adored the characters in this, the different families and their rivalries. What stood out to me was that the two main characters, Camilla and Nico, were so fleshed out. They had a backstory, they had depth, and the chemistry between them... I ATE IT UP. Think knife to your throat romance. There was so much banter between them, which I always love.

The plot kept me very gripped, and immediately after finishing it, I needed to pick up the next book! Loved, loved this and would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a fresh fantasy with something different.

House of Bane and Blood was… fine. The vibes were definitely dark and atmospheric, and I liked some of the twists, but I didn’t fully connect with the characters. The pacing dragged in places, then rushed through moments I actually wanted more of. It wasn’t bad, but it also didn’t blow me away. If you’re into gothic fantasy with plenty of drama, you might enjoy it more than I did!

1920s gangster world meets fantasy with romantic chemistry and political intrigue in a perfect balance.

What drew me to the book: I’d heard strong reviews when it was indie published, and the redesigned cover makes it even more appealing.
Writing style: Engaging and immersive, with just enough description to clearly build the world and context without slowing the pace.
Characters: A great mix of personalities — even the harder characters had softer moments. Relatable family dynamics grounded the slightly dramatized aspects.
Plot & pacing: A perfect balance of slower and faster moments. I would have loved more insight into the outside world beyond the city, but perhaps that’s coming later in the series.
Comparisons: Perfect for fans of Peaky Blinders, urban fantasy, and mafia dynamics.

What I Liked:
A mystery that unfolded naturally without being over-explained.
A strong FMC who holds a position of power in the family business over her brothers — refreshing compared to the more typical “hidden powers/scared heroine” trope.

What Could Be Stronger:
I’d love a slower romantic burn. Since this is a series, I’d have liked a promise of more development on the romantic horizon, (perhaps for other characters?) alongside the political and plot-driven intrigue.

I highly enjoyed this book! The synopsis fits the vibe of the story perfectly - with the noir peaky blinders type of feeling to it. I enjoyed the story and watching the power dynamics with Camillas family and Nicos as powers outside of their control worked to keep them small and powerless. I was intrigued by the relationship with Camilla and her brothers as well, never quite knowing whether to trust them or not. Overall, I highly enjoyed the series!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers for access to this ARC 📚.

🔥Quick Fire Review🔥

Genre/Themes: 🔥💧🌱🌬️🪄⚔️🚂👹👰🏼‍♀️🚬🦾🥃
Tropes: Victorian, Steampunk Aesthetics, Dark Family Histories, Heiress, Insta Love, Marriage of Convenience, Fake Relationship, Inheritance Disputes, Blackmail, Mole Within, Mafia, Crime Family, Hired Assassin, Cults, Revenge, Betrayal, Paying the Price, Complex Political Systems, Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Nursed Back to Health, Anti-Hero, Disabled, Enemies, Elemental Powers, Shifters, Hidden Truth
Positives: fun plot and aesthetics, easy-going writing style, natural representation, likeable main characters, some good romance elements
Room for Improvement 🔎 : predictable at times, some ideas taken very unsubtly from other works, unconvincing enemies to lovers, some underdeveloped world building, occasionally clunky prose
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌗

✍🏻 Full Review - RISK OF SPOILERS 🛑

This was fun! Another Amazon/Kindle release I was pleasantly surprised by. Was it a tad predictable with some overused tropes? Sure. Did it feel like a Mob/Mafia romance that was changed to Fantasy/Romantasy at the last minute? A little bit. But did I enjoy it? Absolutely.

🧍‍♀️Characterisation:🧍‍♂️
Camilla, nickname Milla, and Nicolai, nickname Nico, were the main characters of the book. Milla was interesting because, verbally, she would come across as stubborn and standoffish, but as the book progressed we learnt she was actually riddled with guilt, feeling indebted and worthless to everybody she loved which meant she let others use and belittle her without realising it. She also had loads of food allergies / intolerances, which I thought was so cool to include. Nico was your classic morally grey character who goes about murdering people, but all to protect or avenge his family. He was charming and authoritative but full of love to give, having grown up in a more loyal and affectionate family. He was able to get Milla to see her own self worth. Nico had a prosthetic hand and claustrophobia, which was depicted so organically. Their chemistry was written well, there was plenty of sexual tension, but the ‘enemies to lovers’ felt quite forced. They were never really ‘enemies’ at all and while Nico’s insta love made a bit more sense further down the line when we learnt he had saved Milla’s life 7 years earlier, I felt the author should have either leant into it fully or not bothered.
Supporting characters, such as the pair’s family, were too underdeveloped for me. Especially since the pair were sacrificing everything for them. In Milla’s family, there was one flashback scene to explain Aramis’ hostility towards her - their father chose her as his heir instead because Aramis had gotten involved in a cult - but that wasn’t enough motive for me. She and Giles got on better, but we never learned why he didn’t hold the same contempt for her and their interactions were too minimal to put across their closeness. I don’t know if we even heard the Twins speak. In Nico’s family, the only thing distinguishing Adler and Luther apart was the fact that Luther went to Hightower with Nico. Other than that, their dialogue was basically the same. Gideon could have been utilised way more seeming he had a little crush on Milla, or they could have at least developed a very close friendship or started to have a true sibling bond that Milla had never had. But again, they only interacted a couple of times. The same could be said for Esme, who could have been a source of sisterhood that Milla desperately needed. Uncle Solomon appeared at random times to get angry at Nico, even though it had been established that he’d given up his authority, and I just didn’t really know why the author bothered with his character. Especially since Nonna existed. Although yet again, Milla had one significant conversation with her where they found a mutual respect for each other because Milla wasn’t afraid to hold her own against her, but then they didn’t really speak to her again. Fran spoke once, Lucinda and Ianthe were mentioned but I don’t recall them ever talking, and a person called Grimm was mentioned at one point and I had no idea who that was. The only important family member, who was actually Milla’s tailor, was Sera. Sera looked out for Milla, even if it turned out to be for an ulterior motive. Overall it was very obvious that the families were inspired by the Italian-American Mob Family trope.
The most interesting villain was actually Sabina. She was depicted as cruel and ruthless, but really she had a strong sense of justice and could be reasoned with. I respected her and kinda wished she’d become a more involved ally. The real villain, Inspector Gavriel, felt a bit too wishy-washy to me. He was threatening Nico, then threatening Milla, then threatening her family. He just didn’t have the intimidating sophistication that some of the best villains have, he felt like an unorganised hot mess to me. The Grey Hands nor The Firenzes created enough of a genuine sense of peril for me. My final thought is justice for Vanya Hartsong. We only saw her as a jealous, stilted lover of Nico only for it to turn out she was mastermind.

🗺️World-Building:🗺️
Before I say anything, I have two glaring points about the world building and they’re both related to the magic wielder called a bender. First off, this author is clearly not British and didn’t consult a British sensitivity reader because if they had they’d know that this is a derogatory slur for a gay man. Secondly, the ones who could manipulate air were unashamedly named air benders. Not even an attempt was made to try and separate that from Avatar. Alas, I move on. Now my experience of the world-building is probably not truly representative of the published work, because this ARC didn’t include any world map or glossary which I would assume the published edition did. Therefore the one chunky paragraph that explained the bulk of the world-building was my only real source of knowledge, and it was very easy to forget it as I read along. I couldn’t help but feel that the world-building and the lore was too much of an afterthought in comparison to the romance, in the sense that it was only explored at the surface level when it was convenient to the plot. There were quite a few types of magic wielder not mentioned, assuming that each remnant had several sub-types. For example, there were three Remnants of Mirth that were properly named - Scolapa (mind readers), Amov (shifters), Mentalus (thought readers) - and Nico as a Remnant of Bane discussed how he could bend air, time and light while Darkthiefs could bend shadows and Esme was a metal bender - but this wasn’t done for the Remnants of Giver and Greed, Blood or Chaos. Wearhs and Bleeders seemed to be used interchangeably, and it wasn’t clear how consuming human blood was a power. Nico’s bending of time, stretching a second out as long as he could, was super cool as well as his air bending to make his prosthetic hand work, which was the work of Esme. But I didn’t really understand how the Descendants and their Remnants used their powers in the context of their society and their lives. Nico knocking people over with a gust or spreading fire generated by his cousin was cool and all, but how did they utilise that elsewhere? What about all the other Remnants? Why did the Firenze family create Glint products against the effects of Remnants, what had been happening in everyday life to generate such a fear of it? The origin of the magic in the book was quite clever, but again a glossary really would have helped. Especially with mentions of the god of Chaos now living in Oblivion, which I assumed was the underworld, and Milla being revealed to be a Remni. The politics in the book I found quite confusing too, with mentions of the OIC and The Watch and The Society being thrown around without me really seeing who they were or what they did. The Nine Crowns gang, or cult?, was significant too but I still didn’t really understand the background of it. Milla’s family steam engine, The Iron Saint, and the value of it in trade was utilised well, but it would have been nice to see what life for typical folk in Lynchaven or the Row was like outside of the privileged estates Milla and Nico lived in. It made it difficult to understand what all the fight for power was even for. Who were the ordinary folk driving the economy? Making those who owned these industries rich? Who was the Overseer, the position the Inspector wanted, ruling over?
Milla’s familiar was sort of glossed over as well, and why was nobody questioning this existing on someone who was meant to be mortal? My frustration was that I actually really enjoyed all of these elements, but I wish they’d been fleshed out more and that I could have immersed myself in the Isle. But the truth-generating champagne that makes you vomit if you lie was my favourite bit.

📝Prose/Plot:📝
The prose was occasionally a bit clunky, mostly when describing rooms or settings or in action scenes where the placement of the characters all got a bit muddled. Characters were stood up when I thought they were sat down, or Nico being sat behind Milla high enough up to rest his feet on her bench, but then being low enough for her arms to rest on his thighs and his face to be in her neck? The Daddy jokes were unnecessary and pretty tonally inconsistent with Nico’s very poetic and romantic dialogue. The book did have a huge pet peeve of mine that exists in romance / romantasy where the characters repeat corny phrases to themselves about the love interest, in this book it was ‘Spoiled little heiress or ‘evil little heiress’. I LOATHE IT. So many books do it and it’s so infantalising it drives me insane. It was also grating that Nico kept calling Milla his wife even though he knew they hadn’t handed in the marriage license. Plot wise I had a good time but the time-restricted arranged marriage and misunderstanding about it was a bit dumb. The whole ‘oh I clearly do want to stay married to you but I can’t because of these not actually very important reasons therefore I have to make you think I don’t want to marry you even though I clearly do’. It got a bit tiresome. The bit with Milla in the beast fighting pit was honestly so random. If the world-building had been better, showing the nitty gritty side of working class living, maybe it would have made more sense, but as it stood there were suddenly these beasts that nobody had mentioned as a legitimate threat and an underground arena with spectators betting on it. Sabina’s ball was an under-utilised scene, where we could have learnt more about the industry leaders, noble families and people of influence but instead we just got Nico fondling Milla’s breasts in front of them all. The Collector thing was a little too glossed over, too, and I still found myself a little bit lost as to the Firenze’s role in everything involving the Inspector and the Nine Hands. I think some of the plot twists were a bit too spoon-fed too. It always gives it a YA feel to me when foreshadowing or vague allusions to events are made too obvious. Like I’m an adult, let me figure it out myself. Or make it a surprise? It was obvious that Milla had asked Giles to hand in the marriage license, and obvious that it was Sera shifted into Milla. If anything Aramis made a good point that Nico didn’t even notice the change of clothes. Dude, Milla instantly knew when a shifter had taken Nico’s place just by his use of the wrong pet name and the feel of his pulse. Nico didn’t even figure it out with Sera basically outright telling him she wasn’t Milla. But despite all that, the scenes of Milla and Nico sneaking around and his use of bending, plus the steam train scene were all really engaging. I would happily read the sequel and hope we get to see more of the magic side of things.

Absolutely yes all the way ! I loved this book so much, i wasnt sure that i was going to enjoy this but i loved it so much