Ahhhh.. the ending was amazing 🤩🤩 the post twist!! The cliffhanger.
I must say the start of the book was slow paced. However things start to pick up at the middle of the story. Second half of the book was absolutely brilliant. , fast paced and completely unpredictable. And give me huge second lead couple syndrome. I can't wait for the second book .
Thank you netgallay and Samantha Gonda for the arc

A Reign of Blood by Samantha Gonda is a 5 star read for me. It was sooo good. I couldn't stop reading this book for a bit. I totally recommend everyone to read this book.

Aria infiltrates the Skierkan court to destroy the enemy of her people- the prince himself. But he's something more and she ends up falling for him.

Lots of steam, intrigue and betrayal. A fun and seductive book. Really enjoy it. The ending was a surprise and filled with twists.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

4.5/5 I want the next book immediately, please and thank you!

I immediately felt myself drawn into this book, there wasn't a slow start or info-dumping period, it was so well-paced.

Cool creatures with cool lore, political drama, hidden identities, enemies to lovers, adventure - everything you could possibly want in a fantasy novel/series!

I loved the characters, their personalities and dynamics together.

Very random thing for me to comment on, but I loved: our FMC mentioned having to go pee! Why did I love that so much?! I am one of those people that when reading a book or watching a movie, I think "when do they go to the bathroom?" But maybe my small bladder is just to blame for that. But it made me laugh and I appreciated it because yeah, I'd need many bathroom breaks on a magical adventure. She also mentioned that she had dirty hair and it needed to be washed and she was desperate to do so, and that was SUCH a mood.

And the way it ends! I need answers and I need the next book. I cannot wait for this adventure to continue.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

**ARC Review: *A Reign of Blood* by Samantha Gonda**

If you’re craving a *dark, moody fantasy* with morally gray characters, intense tension, and a lead who *doesn’t hold back*, *A Reign of Blood* needs to be on your radar. Samantha Gonda kicks off *The Songs of Beasts* series with an *absolute banger*—packed with vengeance, forbidden attraction, and a world that feels *as dangerous as it does intoxicating*.

This book gives us a fierce, no-nonsense protagonist who’s *practical, confident, and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty*. No *soft and sweet* here—Gonda delivers *sharp dialogue, brutal stakes, and an atmosphere so rich you can almost taste the blood in the air*.

The beginning sets the stage with intricate world-building, but *once the story picks up, it doesn’t let go*. The *second half is a full-throttle ride* with twists that’ll leave you *reeling*. And the romance? *Deliciously forbidden*—the kind that keeps you flipping pages way past midnight.

If you love *dark fantasy with edge*, this one’s for you. Gonda’s writing is *gritty, immersive, and unapologetic*, setting up what’s sure to be a series that *only gets more intense from here*.

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity 💕**

4.5 Stars

Thank you Net Galley and Samantha Gonda for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

From the very first page, I was completely drawn into the captivating world that Samantha Gonda has crafted. The magic system, the creatures, and the intricate world-building were all incredibly immersive. I found myself unable to put the book down, and even when I wasn't reading, I was constantly thinking about it.

One of the highlights of this book is the multiple points of view. Normally, I find myself less interested in at least one character's perspective, but not this time. Each character's story was compelling and kept me engaged throughout.

Aria, the main female character, was a standout. She was strong, confident, and easy to fall in love with. Raask, with his dual nature as both the charming and charismatic prince and his darker, more cruel side, was fascinating to follow. I loved how Aria brought out his true self. Similarly, Viggo, who initially I wasn't sure about, grew on me significantly as the story progressed, and I found his chapters highly enjoyable.

The romance plot lines throughout the story were amazing. Although at times it felt a bit rushed and insta-lovey, the chemistry between the characters was undeniable, and I found myself rooting for their relationships.

While some parts of the story felt slow, I was thoroughly enjoying the different perspectives. The plot had some well-executed twists that kept me guessing and intrigued throughout.

The ending of the book was nothing short of spectacular. It was insane in the best way possible, and I loved every moment of it. The bond between Raask and Viggo, their brotherly dynamic, was one of my favourite aspects of the book. You could truly feel how much they cared for each other.

This book was everything I could want in a fantasy novel. It was immersive, emotional, and filled with rich character dynamics. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did, and I am eagerly anticipating the next instalment to see how the story continues to unfold.

A dark ocean, Syrens, Gods, forbidden love and a girl out for revenge.

This book is perfect for anyone who is looking for a dark and twisty fantasy book with a good amount of romance. I really enjoyed this book as the plot was something different to other romantasy books out there. I also enjoyed the multiple POVs, as we learned so much about the world and each characters motives and believes. The only real flaw for me was the pacing. At some points it felt like just a lot of things were happening that did not really connect to each other and were more or less fillers. Still it came together in the end to make for a good ending for Book 1 in a series.

Aria is an interesting FMC, and she definitely fits the strong FMC archetype, even if I would have loved to know a bit more about her background. At least at the beginning of the book it was a bit difficult for me to conect with her character, but that changed throughout the book as her character traits were more and more developed and we learned more about her plans.

I also liked that we have the two brothers Raask and Viggo, who both basically want the same thing but go about it in different ways. I have to say that I probably related to Raask the most and would consider him my favorite character so far.

Finally, I want to say that I am excited to see how the story goes on, and in what way the Gods in this world will play a role in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Samantha Gonda for providing me with this eARC, so that I am able to give my honest review on this book. This review will be published on Storygraph, Fable as well as on my TikTok (@mellii_zz).

Oh my gosh, this book had so many twists and turns I'm still reeling! When I saw I'd nearly finished the book I was gutted, I'll be thinking about these characters for a while (and I'm dying to know what happens next).

Featuring lots of plots and scheming, falling in love with enemies, characters with noble aims but morally ambiguous methods, and the consequences of all of the above!

Thanks to NetGalley, BeRead Ltd and Samantha Gonda for the ARC of this book.

A good debut!
The story is told using several POVs, mostly Aria and Raask. The world is filled with syrens, faeries, gnomes, witches, and other interesting creatures.
I liked the magic system, it is quite unique. I appreciate the little guide to Lithen magic at the begging of the book, as it helped me understand the system much quicker.
The first chapter was strong and it drew me in right away. The pacing felt a little bit off, the start was slow, but around 40% things started to pick up. There were some twists and turns I did not expect at all, especially one of them - wow, it was such a bold move!
I wish there had been more descriptions of new characters and places. At times, I found myself struggling to envision them.

Overall, it kept me entertained.

Just wow! I absolutely ate this up and couldn't put it down from the moment I started!

From the very first page, A Reign of Blood pulls you into a world that is both alluring and perilous. Samantha Gonda has woven a dark, atmospheric fantasy that doesn’t hold back, captivating you with sharp dialogue, high-stakes conflict, and a realm brimming with creatures, magic, and hidden truths. The vivid imagery stays with you, immersing you completely in every sensory detail.

The magic system is rich, the world building is phenomenal filled with a vast collection of creatures, places and characters. Speaking of characters, Gonda does an excellent job of bringing them to life from multiple points of view, each perspective adding depth to the overall story. Aria, the fierce and unyielding protagonist, immediately stood out as one of the book's strongest elements. She's a woman of few words, but when she speaks, it’s impactful, and her confidence makes her impossible not to root for. The romance is irresistibly forbidden and charged with tension. Though it occasionally feels rushed and could use a bit more development, the chemistry between the characters is undeniable.

The pacing started off a little bit slow at the start but then in the second half is where it picks up a lot more. The plot twists are expertly crafted, keeping you on your toes and leaving you stunned at times.

The ending is truly outstanding, it will leave you eagerly anticipating the next book, desperate to see where this intense, emotional journey goes. This novel ticks all the boxes for dark fantasy lovers, captivating characters, immersive world-building, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you NetGalley, BeRead Ltd and Samantha Gonda for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4/5

Overall, I really enjoyed “Reign of Blood” by Samantha Gonda. The world building wasn’t overly complicated and the unique magic system pulled me in from the start. However, I found the character connections to be lacking and pacing to be off. I was hooking for the first 100 pages but found a large portion of the middle of the book to be paced slowly and disorganized in terms of character progression and plot. I almost DNF’d, but I’m glad that I stuck it out…

I couldn’t put it down again from 75% on, and I’ll definitely read Book 2 after that amazing cliffhanger.

Thank you NetGalley, BeRead Ltd., and Samantha Goode for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cool world building, loved the politics and plotting. The mistrust, betrayals, and plot twists kept me on edge.

I’m going to be honest, I did really like this book, I wasn’t expecting the reveal of who Aria really was. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending or the second half of the book, it made me mad lol. It wasn’t bad I just wasn’t happy that there was conflict- I absolutely loved Aria and Raask romance and it didn’t really feel rushed, it felt like there was a connection that not even they knew how to navigate and that has to be one of my favourite tropes.

Thank you to net galley for the ARC

Overall this book was very enjoyable. It was fast paced, starting out right in the action. This is a story you can devour in just a few hours and not grow bored. However for me, there were some parts that fell a bit flat. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the dialogue, sometimes finding it a bit strange or juvenile. Some lines just pulled me right out of the story for a few moments. Even then, the cast was enjoyable and I found the world to be very interesting!

I loved the plot and the characters but a lot of the book seemed rushed, things were just moving too fast and sometimes it left me confused about certain scenes and characters. Overall, the book was good, I just wish the author slowed down the pace of the book and explain some things a bit more.

This was a wonderfully intriguing romantasy novel and unlike anything else I’ve read. This kingdom is run by the morloks (humans) and syrens abide within the waters of the sea which is dangerously risky for sailors, and there are heaps of other magical creatures too. Aria’s people are subjugated to slavery, her family lost and she is sworn to vengeance . We have adventure, morally grey main characters, forbidden love and magic within lithes so substance based which was an interesting perspective within the story.

The book opens with a vivid description of Aria pulling herself from the sea, and I had to read it twice to make sure I understood what I was reading! I wasn’t sure what it all meant at that point although it came clear later in the story (as I tend to go in blind to a book!)

The story has such potential but some phrases, choice of vocabulary and passages I felt could be written more smoothly as it felt a little clunky to my ear. Being a British reader it maybe that American English doesn’t sit as well for me but not having read any blurb or author details beforehand I did wonder whether it was lost in translation. Some parts of the story were slow, others were rushed and the romance seemed to suddenly happen without much preamble so was a bit insta-lusty.

I always enjoy a duel point of view so the fact this book had the most varied POV I thought helped immensely. It really gave greater depth to the characters.

Overall I’d give it three stars. Intriguing premise and storyline but not quite hitting the mark with the style of writing for me.

Thankyou so much to NetGalley for the E-Arc in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/5
Thank you so much to Samantha Gonda and BeRead Ltd for choosing me as an ARC reader! This book was very entertaining and had me interested from the very first scene. I loved the characters and the way Samantha built intrigue and suspense throughout the book to slowly reveal the bigger picture. The last 10% of the book definitely had me thrown off track and was a nice little change of pace! I'm eager to see what happens next! I appreciated the little bits of romance we got and while there is no spice, it was tastefully done. Additionally, Reign of Blood is a nice introduction to the fantasy genre for readers who may be intimidated by world-building; it keeps a quick pace and is fairly easy to follow.

Rating-
4/5 stars

Genre-
Fantasy

Age Rating For It-
15+ because there is some violence and revenge plots and everything but also there is romance, in it nothing explicit or anything just some kissing, cuddling and things.

Tropes-
Enemies to lovers
Royalty
Badly treated mythological creatures

Quotes-

“It was a perfect story really, a story that she was counting on. Love and hope: the two easiest things to manipulate.”

“Breathless, Aria asked, ‘And what if I would like to be the one to take revenge? To gut someone> Would that scare you, Prince?’...With a dark, thunderous laugh, Raask finally answered. ‘If it’s revenge you want, it’s what I’ll give you.’”

Thoughts/Would I Recommend This?-
I honestly really enjoyed this book so much and thought it was really great! I only really had one real thing that really annoyed me about the book, and it may just be me that was annoyed by this, just because of the type of reader I am, though. I just did not love how fast the enemies ended up becoming lovers. As someone who one of my all-time favorite tropes is enemies to lovers, I felt this one was wayyy too quick of the enemies becoming lovers. It was like one moment she hates him so much and his family and everything they did, but then the next second later she's making out with him and in love. I felt it made the rest of the story not as fun because they had already become lovers and things. So now there wasn’t too much of a change really with the romance plot after that, and I love me a good romance plot. So, I wish the author had waited longer before finally having them become lovers because I think it would have improved the book a lot more so. All together, though, I really enjoyed this book and would totally recommend.

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

RC Review✨

✅Multiple POV
✅ Forbidden love
✅ Supernatural romance
✅ Prophecy
✅ Mysterious past
✅ Found family
✅ Unrequited love

Whew. To say that Reign of Blood was intense is an understatement. I was on the edge of my seat with all the plot twists!

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were developed, and they all have a role to play in the story.

Raask and Aria: I feel for these two characters. I did not see the twist in their story, and I loved how that was revealed later on in the book.

Viggo: OMG. How can I even begin to describe this character? I was drawn to him from the moment he was introduced. When light was shed on his past, it was so unexpected.

Mayta: She’s evidence that even the nicest people can do harm when pushed past their limit.

Cons:
- The story seemed to have dragged the first couple of chapters.
- Some of the scenes were not described properly. It seemed that some parts dragged from one scene to the next without proper world building.

Overall, Samantha Gonda wrote an amazing book. That ending made my heart skip a beat from the tension. I just regret that I don’t have the sequel to read right away. The next one will be something I will look forward to.

This is a captivating tale that transports readers to a richly imagined world filled with magic, adventure, and intrigue. The story follows the FMC, who embarks on a perilous journey. Along the way, they encounter a diverse cast of allies and enemies, each adding depth to the unfolding narrative. The author’s vivid world-building and immersive storytelling create a breathtaking setting where mythical creatures, ancient prophecies, and epic battles come to life.

This book was very different from the typical romantasy. Every time something happened that I thought I knew the outcome, I was surprised by how realistic the actual outcome was. Heroine saves main lead? Obviously she will wake up with all her limbs, NO! Also, the little bits of easter eggs that helped the reader reach the conclusion of what the heroine actually is was perfect. I was surprised by this book at every turn, so I enjoyed reading it a lot.

Thank you, Netgalley, for this ARC.

This book really had dark Little Mermaid vibes. How the golden retriever human Prince falls first (and hard) in love with a vicious siren whose plan is to seek vengeance.

This story was so unique and exciting. It's so fast-paced that you sometimes forget to breathe. Never a dull moment, lots of action. And the enemies to lovers trope is incredible! At the end of the story, there's even the 'who did this to you' trope. I screamed!

The romance in this book is slow burn, and there's no explicit sexual content.

The ending with its twists and turns took me by surprise. No spoilers! There's a cliffhanger, so I expect a second book soon.

3rd person, multiple PoV dark fantasy

First chapter you get really thrown into it, but then the story progresses very slowy...to the point I did almost give up. However it did finally pick up around the 40-50% mark. The twists, had me shocked & the romance while at first felt instant love becomes so much more. Forbidden even. And the last 5% seriously had me gasping! The cliffhanger will definitely have me reading the second in this story.

Thanks again to Netgalley and Samantha Gonda for an ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and BeRead Ltd for the ARC!

4-stars

A Reign of Blood is the mysterious beginning of what I imagine will be a great new series! Every time I thought I knew where the plot was going, I was surprised! The main characters are hiding so many secrets, and each new revelation felt like a puzzle piece falling into place.

The four main characters felt compelling within the world and the lithe-based magic system was fascinating and unique. I think there is a lot more within the world to be explored.

Some people may call it a bit slow for the pacing, but I rather enjoyed the steady climb of the plot.
And when you get the end, BUCKLE UP because it is a wild ride!

I think Samantha Gonda shows great promise as a debut author and I look forward to her growth in subsequent books.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ARC Review ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

A Reign of Blood begins with a young girl, Aria, being rescued from a deadly ocean called the Dahs. The story quickly picks up from there. This debut story in the Songs of Beasts series has a lot of twist and turns that will keep you captivated until the end. There were times I wondered where the story could possibly go from here but I was still intrigued enough to keep reading. The world uses a fun magic system where different colors of a substance called lithe has different abilities (tawny lithe is energy, cobalt lithe is a sleeping aid, emerald lithe is like a drug that causes euphoria, etc). This story is told from a multi POV perspective so you can continuously get new information throughout the course of the story. This book was fun, lots of twists and turns. It was a little lighter on romance than I expected, it almost felt like all of the romantic interests were thrust upon you but didnt develop as naturally as they could have. Overall this story and world was very fun to read and I’ll gladly pick up the next book in the series!

Thank you to Samantha Gonda, BeRead LTD, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

gripping, dark fantasy novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy tales of power, betrayal, and survival.

I really enjoyed the multiple POV's and how you got to see everything from each person perspective and see how they felt about the same things. I liked how we got to read the growth of each character. I loved the relationship between Raask and Viggo. It was a really sweet to read about two brothers who love each other instead of fighting over the crown. I like the FMC Aria. She has had a rough past but was willing to do whatever she had to do for her people. That ending had my jaw dropped.

I can't wait to read the next book! Thank you so much Samantha Gonda and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to be apart of the ARC team!❤️

This is a wonderful dark fantasy novel! The characters are intriguing and the overall vibe is dark, moody, and mysterious! As the story deepens and you begin to understand the motives of the characters, everything just comes together very cohesively. I really enjoyed the fantasy world and the fantasy creatures that are depicted, such as sprites, wraiths, sirens, zombie-like mutilated monster men, and humans with magic powers that are enhanced by ground up crystal powder (lithe) and how the various colors of lithe will have differing effects on the consumer! I found this story to be a wild ride. I thought it was going one way and it would completely flip and go another direction. Kept me on my toes! I love that because sometimes we get used to repetitive themes in fantasy so this was a breath of fresh air, while simultaneously ripping the breath from my lungs with the shocking twists. Very good debut!

This book surpassed my initial interest and then some!

I could not put this book down once I started and I wish there was more to get lost in. Everyone is morally grey - hurting and looking for their person - but who will forge the world they want most?

There are multiple points of view in this story, but don’t let that deter you if it’s not your normal cup of tea. The points of view were an absolute benefit to the story and never once confusing to follow.

Aria, our main female character, is in her late 20s, and she views herself as a predator. She hates the ruling family, but a certain prince - who she says is not HER prince - gives her a "touch him and die” drive that she can't ignore.

Enter our golden-haired prince, Raask, one of the main male characters.
Raask is handsome and tanned with deep blue eyes - he’s also the heir to the throne. The first solo encounter between the MMC and the injured FMC goes like this: "Hop on my back..." he commanded..."Good girl". He takes care of her, but he will also be cruel for her.

Our other male point of view is General (and Prince) Viggo - our tall warrior blessed with the magic of literal death. This big brother will do anything he can to help Raask before he takes the throne. But what if Raask doesn't know everything he's doing?

The love triangles are enjoyable to read. The magic system is based on ancient magic tied to various creatures from sirens, to sprites, etc. There is also a magical substance that coats the castle walls, can be turned into powders, and is used in tattoos.

Thank you to NetGalley and BeRead Ltd for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of A Reign of Blood by Samantha Gonda.

Worldbuilding was ace in this! I especially loved the Dahs, this magical, dark ocean of dangerous sea creatures with thick, viscous waters. A king hellbent on genocide, magical experimentation on his subjects, and warmongering leads an empire built on magic mined from the sea, using enslaved peoples, including the syrens.

The characters are all morally grey, most doing bad things for the sake of the greater good. Some are just evil, like the king. All are deeply flawed.

I loved it. Can't wait to read more in this fascinating world and see what happens next.

4.5 stars

I think this author has potential, but it wasn't for me. It was readable, but I was mostly bored. At first, I didn't mind the multiple POV but I'm afraid it'll be too much in the future book(s). Here we have 4 main POVs so it was easy to follow and interesting but did I need the last new POV? Not really. Too much telling, not enough showing.
But I do think it's a good debut book. It still needs some editing (repetitions, typos -I usually don't notice them so if I do, that's really an issue-) but I know it's too late for this one so I hope the author will learn from this one. It has potential but to be honest, I was a little confused sometimes. Magic system is cool, I wish we learned more in the story than in the glossary (that I'm lazy to check), about the different creatures... instead of wasting time in some character's head.

By the way, the book was marketed with a <i>bloodthirsty heroine</i> it was said a lot but I didn't really saw that part of her so I hope it'll be more shown in the next book? I also didn't see the need of saying it's a twist on the Little Mermaid, the FMC(s?) are just sirens. And I don't get the Hades and Persephone part either (that I find overused in the way authors are marketing their books). Sometimes being simple is fine too. I admit I was first drawn to this book because I saw aesthetic posts of it and absolutely not because of the tropes. Like, she managed to fit the famous <i>"Who did this to you?" at one point and it felt so pointless at that moment. But that might also be because I'm not sold on the main couple, if that's the actual couple in this trilogy. And it's not because of the absence of steam, I like a good slow-burn. But it's messy. I didn't get the attraction of Viggo for Mayta either, was it like a fated thing? And maybe I wasn't focused enough but the only age I did get from this read is Viggo's. I have no idea how old are the others characters exactly.

I don't know yet if I'll read the next book, but I do wish the author good things, she was nice on her socials.

A great start from Samantha Gonda. Her debut novel is rich and impactful and the world building is really well explained I loved Aria’s character and all the lore about the Dahs. I did not particularly enjoy the romance part but she can build her story with a sequel.

From the very first page you are thrown right into the action of the book and I am here for it. Some may say it's a little confusing in the beginning because of that, but for me, I love not having to wade through the first couple chapters before being hooked.

This book had a ton of surprises and a ton of little "I did not see that coming" moments. I loved the main characters and the magic system. They truly felt so unique. I'm really excited that this is the first book in a new series because I am already ready for more.

A very special Thank You to NetGalley and BeRead for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story was so unique and exciting. It's so fast-paced that you sometimes forget to breathe. Never a dull moment, lots of action. And the enemies to lovers trope is incredible! At the end of the story, there's even the who did this to you trope. I screamed!
The romance in this book is slow burn, and there's no explicit sexual content.
Overall a lovely book and and I’m expecting a second book (which I would be overjoyed to read as well!)

You love him you hate him you love him you hate him. Aria is thrown for a loop amd so was I. Then she did us just as dirty

A Reign of Blood is a unique and interesting romantasy with creative world building and morally gray characters. From the start, the reader is thrown right into the action. Aria is discovered almost drowned on the shores of the Dahs by the charming heir to the throne. Raask takes Aria back to the palace, where they begin to bond. While Raask immediately trusts Aria, his older brother Viggo does not. Unfortunately for Raask, Viggo is spot-on. Aria faked her drowning in order to infiltrate the palace with the sole goal of taking down the royal family and getting revenge for the deaths of her people. The story is told through multiple POVs, which really added to the overall plot. Each character is well-developed, and I found myself looking forward to each character's next chapter. I also loved the development of the relationships between Aria and Raask, Raask and Viggo, and Viggo and his group. While the world building and magic system are quite complex, the author does a great job of advancing both throughout the book. There is no huge information dump. I do think the book could use a bit more editing. There were quite a few typos and some repetition throughout. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the concept, the characters, and all of the action. And that ending! WHAT!?!?!?! I cannot wait for the next book.

This story starts straight off with action. At first, I felt like I had missed certain things and was a bit confused but quickly everything eventually comes together in a satisfying way.

Aria is a strong and driven main character, fueled by loss and vengeance. As the story unfolds, the characters gain depth, tensions rise, and motivations become clearer. The world building is solid and engaging, though a bit more history and detail would have added extra richness.

Once the pieces connect, the plot really clicks. Overall, this is a worthwhile read for YA fantasy fans who enjoy complex stories, slow reveals, and emotionally charged character arcs.

Exciting read! Love the chemistry between the main characters. Can't wait to read her next book!

Rating: 5/5

I’d give A Reign of Blood somewhere around 4 out of 5 stars.

From the very start the book throws you right into darkness, danger, and tension. The heroine, Aria, walks out of the sea with nothing but vengeance in her heart. Her world is built on blood, loss, and the fire of her burning rage against those who ruined her people. She disguises herself as a helpless girl and infiltrates the court of the prince she plans to destroy. Her plan is simple: seduce, betray, destroy. But as the story unfolds, the lines between hatred and desire blur. The prince isn’t what she imagined. His secrets, his power, and his unexpected kindness start to crack her strict resolve.
The world‑building is rich and dark and full of cruelty, but also beauty. There are magical lithe‑based powers, magical creatures, secrets among royalty, slavery, war looming, the stakes feel real. The palace, the sea, the courts, and the forgotten corners of this world give the book a dangerous, moody atmosphere that stays under your skin.
Aria is a brutal, unyielding heroine. She is not innocent. She has scars, anger, desperation, and she never pretends to be pure. That roughness makes her real. Watching her navigate betrayal and desire, vengeance and vulnerability, gives the story a painful kind of beauty.

The love story is messy. It isn’t the kind of romance that builds slowly and prettily. It feels urgent, urgent like fire and blood, driven by secrets and pain and half‑truths. At times it feels too fast, like enemies‑to‑lovers happened in a rush. That bothered me a little. But maybe chaos like this suits the story better. after all, this isn’t a fairy tale.

I love this book, I apologize it took me awhile to finish it. The author did a great job bringing each character to live, providing an emotional response whether that would be falling in love with the character or truly despising them for their actions. I do wish it was not such a slow burn. In the beginning the book has a difficult time keeping my attention . I have written a review on Goodreads but it has not been posted yet. I will also write one on Amazon later today

A Reign of Blood pulled me in fast. Aria’s mission for revenge is brutal, emotional, and impossible to look away from. The court politics are sharp, the magic is unique, and the tension between characters kept the story crackling. Some parts moved a little unevenly, but overall it was gripping, dark, and addictive in all the ways I love. A strong fantasy read with real bite.

Dark, seductive, and brimming with tension. A Reign of Blood takes familiar romantasy tropes—revenge, disguise, and forbidden desire—and executes them with flair and conviction. Gonda’s writing is rich and cinematic, her world drenched in courtly danger and the kind of political intrigue that always feels one breath away from ruin.

Aria’s duality—ruthless and vulnerable, predator and prey—anchors the story beautifully. The prince is not merely a love interest but a mirror for her ambition and guilt, which makes their dynamic far more compelling than expected. The pacing builds steadily toward chaos, and the moral greys are deliciously murky.

A strong start to a new series, perfect for readers who crave vengeance-fueled romance, knife-edge court politics, and the ache of loving someone you should destroy.

Such a good dark fantasy! It kind of gave me little mermaid vibes but darker.
I love that there are multiple povs it really made me care about each character and I looked forward to each of their chapters. The world building isn’t overwhelming which I can appreciate. There are some things about the world we don’t know much about but I feel like we will get more answers in the next book. The magic system is based off different colors of lithe which I found unique and interesting. Personally the beginning seemed a bit slow to me but the ending is filled with twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Overall a pretty good start to a series.

Throne of Glass meets The Little Mermaid in this dark, richly woven debut that had me hooked from start to finish. A Reign of Blood delivers everything I crave in a romantasy—morally grey characters, courtly intrigue, and a beautifully crafted slow-burn romance that builds tension with every page.

One of my favorite aspects was the multiple POVs. I loved being able to see the story unfold from different perspectives, which added so much depth and nuance to the plot. It gave the political intrigue and personal struggles more weight, and really pulled me into the complexity of this world.

The romance between Aria and the prince was stunningly done—layered with tension, desire, and impossible choices. Add in a plot twist I absolutely did not see coming, and I was fully invested in where this story was headed.

And then there’s Viggo. I’m desperate to know what he’s plotting behind his brother’s back, especially considering what he did at the end of book one. After everything, Raask didn’t deserve what happened, and I need to know what lies in store for both Viggo and Mayta in book two. The threads left dangling have me itching for the sequel—seriously, when do we get book 2?!

While the pacing at the very start felt a touch slow, once I settled in, the story swept me away. The world-building is lush, the characters are layered, and the emotional stakes are sky-high. A fantastic debut from Samantha Gonda, and one I’ll be recommending to fans of dark, twisty romantasy.

The ending, the cliffhanger, the character development- all I can say is wow. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and the politics of their world. A fantastic read!

A good book with lots of potential.
The world building was so immersive and I loved the magic system and creatures Gonda created. Full of strong characters it was nice to hear from multiple POVs. A bit slow to get into but a great ending. Interested to see what happens next.

A surprise ending (the twists!) really made this book for me, and I am excited to see what's next! Thanks to NetGalley, Samantha Gonda, and the publisher for this ARC!

This was a strong opening chapter in the Songs of Beasts series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed in this universe. Samantha Gonda has a strong writing style and was glad I read this. The characters were everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed about the genre. I was invested from the cover and description and was so glad I got to read this. The overall storyline worked well and was glad I got to read this. It left me wating to read more in this world and from Samantha Gonda.

Thank you to NetGalley and BeRead Ltd for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t expecting this to be so emotionally chaotic—and I mean that in the best way. This isn’t your typical seduce-and-destroy plotline. A Reign of Blood gives us a heroine who isn’t just fighting for her people—she’s fighting herself. Her rage. Her grief. Her need for control. Aria is deliberate, calculated, and so deeply broken that every decision she makes carries weight.

The setup is classic: infiltrate the enemy court, get close to the prince, break him. But the moment she sees who he is under the gold mask, the plan starts to fracture. Slowly. Intimately. And that unraveling? That’s the real story.

Gonda builds tension with a scalpel. The romance is enemies-to-lovers, yes, but also power-to-power. Equal parts magnetic and maddening. I wasn’t sure who I was rooting for at times—Aria or her ruin.

And the prince? You’ll want to hate him. You’ll try. But the vulnerability beneath his command, the way he mirrors Aria’s own damage? It lingers. The seduction isn’t rushed. It simmers. It complicates. And when the stakes rise, you feel them.

This book aches with betrayal, passion, and the question we never stop asking: Who do you become when revenge is all you’ve ever known—and love threatens to change the ending?

It’s dark, it’s romantic, and it absolutely left a mark.

⭐️⭐️⭐️½

A Reign of Blood is a dark, moody fantasy with a bloodthirsty heroine, forbidden love, and a world built on shadows, magic, and betrayal. I really enjoyed the tension between Aria and the crown prince, the morally complex characters, and how the story slowly revealed hidden truths and unexpected twists.

The atmosphere is rich and the romance kept me hooked—but the pacing felt a bit slow at first, and I wished for deeper world-building in some scenes. Still, it delivered intense moments, a few gasp-worthy reveals, and that kind of dark fairytale vibe that’s hard to resist. Perfect for fans of forbidden love, supernatural intrigue, and morally grey characters.