I technically finished A Masterpiece in Blood at 2am, but I was far too emotionally compromised to form a coherent review at the time, so this is me attempting to gather my thoughts now… though I’m still not entirely recovered. Megan really said “let me raise the stakes and ruin your peace” and fully committed to it, especially with that ending. I spent most of this book reacting in real time (through messages to Megan, which she was really lovely about), and by the final stretch I was just staring at the pages in disbelief. It’s the kind of ending that lingers and makes you immediately desperate for the next book.

One of the standout elements for me was the intensity of the relationships. The shift into NA feels very clear here, and it allows for a deeper exploration of emotions, loyalty, and consequences. Everything feels sharper, more layered, and more impactful because of it.
Nicole continues to be such a strong central character. I really appreciated how grounded she feels, particularly because of her family. They’re present, involved, and important to the story rather than just existing in the background, which adds a lot of emotional weight to everything that happens. Kyan and Nicole completely delivered on the tension. The yearning is constant, and the dynamic between them carries that “we would burn the world for each other” energy that makes every interaction feel significant. It never felt repetitive either. Instead, it built steadily throughout the book in a way that kept me fully invested.

Callum was another highlight for me. There’s something so effortlessly likeable about him, and he brings a different kind of energy to the story. His dynamic with Dylan was genuinely one of the softer, more endearing aspects of the book, and I found myself really looking forward to their scenes.
Bells is also someone I’m very curious about moving forward. There are clear hints that there’s more going on with her, and I’m especially interested in how her connection with Callum might develop in the next installment as I feel like there were very strong suggestions towards the end that they might be pivotal in working together.

Plot-wise, there is a lot happening. This isn’t a slow or simple story, and it requires you to pay attention, but that’s part of what makes it so engaging. There are multiple POVs, shifting dynamics, and layers of tension that keep everything moving. Even when I felt overwhelmed, it was in a way that made me want to keep reading rather than step away.

Overall, this book felt bigger, darker, and more emotionally intense than what came before, and I really enjoyed that progression. It expands the world, deepens the characters, and raises the stakes in a way that makes the wait for the next book feel almost unbearable.

And yes… that ending. I am both impressed and emotionally unwell.

I will absolutely be picking up book three as soon as possible, because I need to know what happens next. I truly don't want to be that person always demanding more, and I know there is so much work that goes into writing and editing and publishing a book and I know it takes time and isn't something Megan can just give us immediately.... but also... Megan knows what she did to make me feel like this haha.

When I first read The Temptation of Magic I knew that it would slowly work its way to one of my all time favourite reads. The second I knew that A Masterpiece in Blood was coming out, I knew I had to read it - and I currently have 2 copies on pre order - but I am so grateful to have been given the chance to read this as an ARC too.

I LOVE Kyan and Nicole as people, as if they were 2 people that I had been friends with and was finally starting to see them grow into who they were meant to be - and I have to remind myself regularly that they are, in fact, characters of a book.

The multiple perspectives between Bells, Dylan, Kyan, Nicole, and another (who I won't name for fear of spoiling it) just adds extra to the storyline and the overarching development of these people and who they are working to be.

We find out The Wake is worse than we could have imagined, but the determination of 'The Family' is inspiring. The way they band together, act as a true family, a support network is comforting and is something that just adds extra to the overall development of the story and the characters.

I couldn't get enough of the intimacy between Nicole and Kyan, the respectfulness but also the HEAT. the ONE BED. the alone in a CABIN!? Urgh you have hit some of my favourite tropes!

I will say nothing else on the story, except for this, HOW COULD YOU LEAVE IT LIKE THAT!!! My soul is a little bit sad right now and I need time to recover.

A Masterpiece in Blood is amazing! I couldn't put it down and I'm still thinking about that ending! Megan Scott has written a dark and exciting vampire story that is easily one of the best I've ever read.

From the very start, the book is full of mystery and a romance that feels super intense. I loved how the author mixed art and vampires together; it made the whole story feel really special and cool.

This is a perfect five-star book for me. The two main characters have great chemistry, and every time they were together on the page, it was so exciting to read. The writing is beautiful but easy to follow, even when things get a bit dark or scary. It’s hard to find a book that has both a great mystery and a great love story, but this one does both perfectly.

If you like vampires and stories that keep you guessing, you have to read this! Thanks for the ARC!

4.75 stars

A masterpiece that I couldn’t put down and left my jaw on floor.

A Masterpiece in Blood was a fantastic sequel to The Temptation of Magic, it didn’t suffer from being book 2. I’ve read a few sequels recently where they have suffered from second-bookitus, aka they didn’t meet the expectations set by book 1. This was not the case with A Masterpiece in Blood – it had the perfect mix of new discoveries, continued world building, and character development. Importantly, I was never bored.

The POVs in the book are expanded to include Bells and Dylan (Nicole’s siblings), as well as the occasional appearance from side characters so that as readers we can learn important information. I really appreciated the expanded POVs, as each character is on their own development journey and it offered a well-rounded view of the plot and we got to know the characters better. While there are surprises and twists, you discover them as the main characters/POVs do, as a reader you aren’t left in the dark. This was especially important as developments occurred when Nicole and Kyan weren’t around.

The reveals, the developments – they left my jaw in the floor. I can’t wait to see how the series continues in the next book. I have so many questions!

I absolutely love how important and key to the plot art, mythology, and artefacts are. I haven’t read a book quite like it yet, especially the art aspect – it’s rather unique.

Nicole is a brilliant FMC, she hasn’t been made into a helpless heroine but she’s also not been overpowered. Instead, she is powerful (the right amount), smart, strong and protective. Kyan is also a brilliant MMC, who has experienced so much loss and trauma in his life, and he honestly just needs a hug.

It’s medium paced with some fast-paced moments. If you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy travel then you are in luck. The cast of characters move to a lot of locations during the events of the book, but you never really experience the travel. Usually, you meet them in their next location, which helps to keep a good pace to the book.

If you enjoyed book 1 then you’ll love book 2, and you'll want to read book 3 as soon as you are finished!

This absolutely exceeded my expectations. The story took off with the exact momentum from the first one, and never really slowed down. It continued to expand the vibrant world we were introduced to in the first book, and pushed all the characters to new limits. I couldn't put the book down the tension and mysteries unfolding was delectable. That cliffhanger had me so sad because I desperately want to know what happened next. Absolutely one of my favorite reads this year

“She loved that he was her new safeplace, that he had helped her understand she was her own one too.”

Let me get this straight: The Temptation of Magic has obsessed me since I read it for the first time 2 years ago. So saying that I had high expectations for A Masterpiece in Blood would be an euphemism. What I didn’t expect, however, was to be stricken even more. I know I’ll need at least another read to seize the whole as my thoughts are still all over the place, weeks after finishing reading (which also means that this review will be messy, sorry about that, that’s the crazy excitement).

That’s one thing I adore with this series: you can read it as pure entertainment, being dragged by the plot, the heists and mysteries. Or you can take your time, appreciate the craft as much in the style as in the way of planning and foreshadowing. You can read it 10 times and still find new things (I know, I did/do that with book 1!!). You can stop with every piece of art, place, double meaning and try to solve the mystery with the characters. I absolutely love these multiple layers of reading, and enjoy all of them. You can also read it in an attempt to analyse the craft, trying to understand how the author managed to put everything together in such a brilliant way (I’ve said that many times, but I need an annotated edition of this series).

BecauseM.S.’s craft is just spectacular. The style, yes (huge yes!), but the storytelling and foreshadowing. There were so many hints in book 1 that landed in this one, so many opportunities to have theories. I can’t even count how many times I yelled while reading this book, as my theories crashed or were confirmed, as I gasped, my heart thundering in my chest. If you had unhinged theories —like I did— you might have been right, but be warned, it's to be even more crashed a few paragraphs later. OMG how crazy that book (and revelations) was!

There’s a bit less space for lyrical writing, as you could expect for a second book in a series that develops, runs at a breathtaking pace, grabs you with its tension. But when we take a breath, when it occurs, it’s mindblowing (the whole middle, OMG).
The pace is a whirlwind of events and emotions, but it also knows when to breathe, the writing taking control then, as soft brushes on a Canva, adornments here to reveal the bigger picture. The Masterpiece.
I had mentioned before how MS’s writing felt synestheasic, and it’s still the case, probably even more than before as synesthesia is an explicit part of Nicole’s experience (which makes her even more precious to me –as I mentioned in my TTOM review, her character and lived experience was one of the times I’ve felt seen the most in a book). Once again, Nicole made me (metaphorically) feel seen with her experiences post unmasking, how she can be overwhelmed by the outside world. This is one of the reasons why TTOM was so precious to me, and I’m glad it was here again, but in a different way.

The tension is once again tensioning. Between Nicole and Kyan, of course, as things get even more heated than in book one (the writing of the spicy scenes was so perfect! But also the other moments that built such heated tension —I’ll just say it’s better than in omegaverses) even though the romance is a bit less central (but just as important to the plot), but also in general. I can’t count the number of times I had to close the book because I was too scared about what could happen next.
There is so much happening in the book that it feels like you run until you're out of breath. Heists. Street fights. Museums. Dangerous new characters. Riddles. Kidnapping. Revelations. And then, breaks, but so important ones (also, can I have a Tène too?)
MS makes you travel. Real places and pieces of art anchor the story in our reality, but the writing makes you feeling you’re actually there, diving deeper in the story. This second book is just as immersive as was the first one and I loved to visit England, Scotland and Ireland (oh, Ireland !!).

Even more than TTOM, AMIB is full of Irish myths. I loved how it mixed mythology retellings as we usually know them (Kyan) but also with an academia view (Nicole). The book/series remains a dark academia one to me (even though the setting is more urban fantasy in this second book), as Nicole is a scholar at her core, and that’s what guides her in her adventures.
There is a lot more about Kyan and his past (my dreams are thanking the author), and SO MUCH MORE about The Wake. OMG so so much more. Revelations, but also discourse, and the opportunity for the author to keep deepening the dystopian supernatural society, discussing power, control and cultural erasure. There are also very feminist moments (the Muse !! <3), especially around erasure or the false impression of safety).

And there is art. Of course, there is art. TTOM’s magical system (and magic for the reader) was based in art, and AMIB keeps going. Arts are at the center of the plot, but also the foundations of who the characters are (Nicole and Remi especially), how they think and act. It’s immersive, beautiful and a lot of my favorites scenes are linked to art. The pieces of art, the museums, the locations are described in such a way that makes you feel you are in here (the Whovian in me was VERY scared because of a sculpture in Liverpool) and live the events in real time with the characters.

The book becomes choral, with many POV which allows MS to develop previously secondary characters but what remains are the family dynamics. The Palmer family is beautiful and not at all toxic like we can see very (too?) often in fantasy (or in our world), and that’s such a precious thing to read. They’re all mostly green flag, even though the morality glimpse a bit (sometimes a lot) in this one as the protective instincts get the upper hand.
That notion of protection is at the center of the book (of course) and it’s a great way to discuss security and freedom, how fear can be used to rule, how culture can be scared —and crushed— for another one to dominate and erase them.

If TTOM was my unicorn of a fantasy (and more), AMIB is my unicorn of a book in general, what I dreamt for, and more. Not only did it survive my excitement about TTOM (and yall know how high it was/is) and confirmed some of my most unhinged theories, but it largely overtook it and confirmed that this series is my favorite fantasy series of all time.

AMIB is brilliant. All consuming. Haunting. Entrancing. Breathtaking. And also hot.
I don’t know what to do with my life while waiting for book 3, except maybe waiting for my physical copy and reread AMIB again and again, filling it with annotations, just like I did with TTOM.
(if it wasn’t clear enough, infinite stars for this one)

Thank you Harper Voyager for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Attention readers, this sequel packs a punch!

If you enjoyed The Temptation of Magic, you will LOVE A Masterpiece in Blood. It has everything I was not so patiently hoping for and more. Not only does the world-building and the conspiracy get deeper and darker (I do love treasure hunts and heists), but the characters get increasingly more interesting with the additional POVs giving you more plotlines to explore at an almost frantic pace that will keep you reading way past dark. While I did struggle with Dylan's, I devoured Callum's chapters and both Bells' and Papa Palmer's had me intrigued.

And the yearning! The slow burn of Nicole and Kyan's fledgling relationship had me hooked.

Can book 3 materialise now, please?

Nicole and Kyan
Forbidden Romance
Dark Academia
One Bed
Yearning
Irish Mythology

I have been so excited for this book since I first read The Temptation of Magic, and I am obsessed with it!!!

I love the relationship development between these two characters! The tension and yearning!!

There is so much happening in this book and definitely requires focus! But I love it so much!

The ending though. I am unwell. I will be diving into book 3 as soon as possible because I need more! So good!

This was book is fantastic and a true masterpiece in its own right!

I absolutely loved The Temptation of Magic and have been waiting patiently for this sequel and it was an amazing second book, Megan has such a beautiful way of weaving magic through the pages that keeps you engaged from the very start. The added aspects of a unique magic system through art is still one of my favourite things and the romance between Nicole and Kyan is still full of so much heat and longing that it had me in literal pieces, their chemistry is seriously off the charts.

The plot and mystery keeps the story moving at such a good pace and continues to develop a world that is so intriguing and engaging and only proved why this series is a forever favourite and I cannot wait for the third book.

A fantastic series and one I will continually recommend as it's just so good.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/_spiritbound_/profilecard/?igsh=N3E1b2U5ZmFia3Vu">Booksta Link✨</a>

<b>Rating: </b>⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
<b>Series: </b> Empyreal Trilogy #2
<b>Themes & Tropes:</b> Fated Mates, Celtic Mythology & Lore, Mystery & Intrigue, Forbidden Romance, Hidden Clues in Art, Gods & Demons, Hidden Identities, Secret Conspiracies, Urban Fantasy Romance, Slow Burn Romance, Touch Her and Die, Murder Mystery Elements, Artistic Prose.

<b>Summary:</b>

A Masterpiece in Blood was my most anticipated release of the year, and somehow it exceeded every expectation I had. Yes, there is a lot happening. The scope of the story expands dramatically, the mysteries deepen, and the stakes become impossibly high. But at its heart, this remains a story about family, love, truth, and the people willing to risk everything to protect one another.

I adore these characters. I adore this world. I adore the mythology, the mystery, and the romance. Most of all, I adore Megan’s writing, which feels like a work of art in its own right - something that deserves to be framed and displayed in a museum for everyone to experience in it’s glory.

This was a phenomenal sequel, an emotional rollercoaster, and one of my favourite reads of the year so far. Now excuse me while I desperately wait for book three and attempt to recover from that ending!

<b>Plot:</b>

The first thing you’ll notice going into A Masterpiece in Blood is the six-month time jump. Initially, I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about it - I wanted everything!!! However, once I settled into the story, I genuinely couldn’t imagine the book any other way. Megan manages to organically remind readers of the events from book one without relying on a lengthy recap chapter, while also using Nicole’s lingering questions to mirror many of the questions we as readers still have.

Book two significantly expands the scope of the story, introducing several interconnected plotlines.

Nicole continues unraveling the clues left behind by her mother, particularly those hidden within her mother’s portrait. This was the central mystery of book one, and seeing it branch into something much larger felt like a natural progression. No longer confined to Eastwood, Nicole and her family find themselves once again on the run from the Wake, desperately trying to stay hidden while piecing together the truth.

At the same time, Remi begins investigating the mysteries surrounding the legendary Harp, the second divine artifact needed to challenge the Wake’s growing power. We also follow Kyan as he searches for answers regarding the increasingly common hybrid creatures appearing throughout the world, the truth behind Nicole’s mother’s murder, and the sudden reappearance of the Druids - his long-dead ancestors. Meanwhile, Dylan’s storyline quietly unfolds in the background as he struggles to recover memories surrounding his mother’s death.

There is undeniably a lot happening in this sequel, and I can understand why some readers may find it overwhelming at first. It’s a significant step up from book one, which focused primarily on Nicole’s mother’s clues and the central murder mystery. However, every thread ultimately ties back to the same question: who truly controls the Wake? What is the deeper conspiracy working in the background? And let me tell you— the answers are worth the wait.

Not only do we finally uncover the truth behind the Wake’s leadership, but we also receive long-awaited answers regarding Nicole’s father’s powers that were hinted at in the ending of book one. I did not see any of it coming!

Megan has a talent for weaving together seemingly unrelated threads until everything clicks into place. The final stretch of this book is absolutely relentless, filled with revelations, impossible choices, and high-stakes moments that left my heart racing.

And that ending? I finished this book on a flight and was genuinely sitting there in tears. The cliffhanger didn’t just end the story—it emotionally finished me.

One of my favourite additions was the expanded POV structure. We spend more time with Nicole’s entire family, including Ronan, Bell, and Dylan, which gives the story so much additional depth and emotional weight.


<b>World Building:</b>

One of the biggest strengths of A Masterpiece in Blood is how much it expands the world introduced in TTOM. For the first time, we move beyond Eastwood and venture into London and Ireland, opening the door to an entirely new level of mythology, lore, and magical creatures. Dragons. Vampires. Hybrids created by the Wake. And several other creatures I’m intentionally avoiding mentioning because discovering them was part of the fun.

At first glance, the amount of world-building may seem intimidating. However, it makes perfect sense within the context of the story. Nicole and her family spent years hidden away in Eastwood, meaning readers were naturally limited in what they could learn about the wider world. Now those doors have been thrown open.

What continues to impress me most is Megan’s use of Celtic mythology as the foundation of the world. The mythology never feels superficial or decorative—it feels deeply embedded into the story’s DNA. Every new piece of lore had me completely invested, and by the end of the book I was seriously considering booking a ticket to Ireland.

<b>Characters:</b>

One of the greatest joys of this sequel is spending more time with the wider cast. The additional POV chapters allow us to finally learn more about characters like Ronan and Callum, both of whom raised countless questions in book one. And somehow? Megan answered those questions in ways I never would have predicted.

Callum in particular became a standout for me. His friendship with Kyan is one of my favourite relationships in the series, and their interactions consistently brought some much-needed humour and heart to the story. We also spend more time with Remi and her Siren heritage. There is one chapter near the end of the book involving Remi that completely broke me. Watching Nicole’s fierce love for her best friend and seeing the lengths she’d go to protect her had me openly crying.

As for Nicole and Kyan, I somehow love them even more now than I did in book one. Nicole’s growth throughout this book is incredible. Having finally embraced her Empyreal nature after years of resisting it, she’s forced to reckon with what that power means—not just for herself, but for everyone she loves. Watching those changes manifest in both subtle and significant ways was fascinating. Kyan’s journey is equally compelling. He continues questioning everything he’s ever been taught by the Wake while confronting hidden truths about his family, his history, and himself. Both characters experience tremendous growth individually, but some of their strongest moments come when they’re forced into impossible situations together. Nicole remains endlessly curious, intelligent, and driven by her love of art, history, and truth. Kyan remains the fierce protector struggling to reconcile the person he’s been told to be with the person he’s becoming. I could happily read hundreds more books about these two.

<b>Romance:</b>

The yearning. <u>THE. YEARNING.</u> When I say I love slow-burn romance, this is exactly what I mean. Megan understands that slow burn isn’t about withholding romance—it’s about building anticipation until every interaction feels electric. The tension between Nicole and Kyan in this book is absolutely unreal. Every glance. Every touch. Every protective instinct. Every moment of vulnerability. I was losing my mind.

And the spice. After the ending of book one, I expected things to progress, but Megan absolutely delivered. I was unwell. Nicole was unwell. We were all unwell. And yes, Kyan snapping someone’s neck while looking directly at Nicole may genuinely be one of the sexiest things I have ever read in a book, period.

I don’t make the rules. He’s officially secured the number two spot on my fictional boyfriend ranking (shoutout to Arin of Nizhal.)

<b>Writing:</b>

Megan’s writing continues to be one of my favourite aspects of this series. The artistic prose isn’t limited to discussions of paintings or galleries—it extends into every aspect of the story. Landscapes feel like artwork. Cities feel like artwork. Even moments of devastation are written with a strange, beautiful elegance. There is something incredibly distinctive about Megan’s voice as an author. I honestly struggle to compare her writing to anyone else’s because it feels entirely her own.

Every page feels intentional. Every description feels vivid. Every emotional moment lands exactly where it’s meant to. Considering The Temptation of Magic and A Masterpiece in Blood are her first published works, I’m still completely blown away by what she’s accomplished.

A Masterpiece in Blood by Megan Scott - ARC Review.

This book is its own masterpiece!

It was an absolutely amazing second book in a trilogy. Megan Scott weaves magic, art and the supernatural into a brilliantly romantic explosion of mystery and action.

With the characters developing even as the plot pushes the story forward, there's never a dull moment. And let's not forget how the longing and heat between Kyan and Nicole hits new levels!

It's a true masterpiece of writing and worth the 5 star reviews popping up everywhere!

If you've not yet read this series, start now. I highly recommend it.

Absolutely incredible!!!

Ten reasons why I loved it:

1. Yearning!!!!! 🫠 Omg I usually hate separation in books but this has me gripped.
2. Fake hunt scene - had me all giggly.
3. The intense plot - action packed all the way!
4. Corrupt magic system - I love the taking down of a corrupt government
5. FMC runs into danger. I love that she doesn't wait for someone else to save her.
6. Secrets - ahhhh
7. The slowburn ❤️‍🔥 to 🌶️
8. Gorgeous world building with the paintings
9. Mystery!! Gimme Romantasy with a mystery to solve any day
10. The ending!!!

I'm so pumped for the next one!

Absolutely incredible! This is by far the most immersive and atmospheric dark academia I've read - it basically makes me feel like I'm in a cool, moody museum the whole time, and I say this as a huge compliment (definitely <i>not</i> a boring museum). We're also diving a lot into Irish myths and, even though I'll never master the pronunciations, it was fascinating to read about.

This sequel is action packed, and while I'm not a big fan of too many POVs, I think in this case it only enriched the story! I love that all the POVs made me genuinely care for each character, and there was never a moment when I thought, "oh no, not this one's thoughts/storyline again." And the plot twists? I had a suspicion that something wasn't as it was presented from chapter one, but as I kept reading it made me abandon all those suspicions, and then plot twists that I never saw coming concerning others came up... and then it ended with the bang that I expected from chapter one.

All in all, A Masterpiece in Blood was everything I've wanted and then some more, and I'm very much looking forward to the conclusion of the trilogy!

Megan Scott made us wait a long time for the second instalment but, boy oh boy, did she deliver when it arrived! As with the first book, The Temptation of Magic, I gladly lost myself in this world, so rich in myths and lore, with such lush worldbuilding and interesting premise. The art, the details, *chef's kiss*

The story picks up 6 months after the events of TTOM and we're thrown straight into the action and throughout this second book, it becomes clear that there is SO MUCH more to uncover/discover. I am so pleased with Megan's storytelling, she clearly has a strong idea and direction for how she wants the narrative to progress. I found the developments and characters as enjoyable to read as the first time around, and I'm afraid I can't say too much without spoiling things, so the gist is: If you read the first book and liked it, you will very much like this one too!

I feel I have to take a moment and make an honourable mention to Megan's writing. She is incredible talented in weaving her story and I think her skills are top tier. This book feels like it's been edited and re-edited many many times to the point where every sentence feels intentional and no word out of place. It's not an easy read, in the sense that you have to immerse yourself and keep up with everything that's going on, but, equally, that is something I really enjoy as a reader and therefore found massively rewarding here.

Thank you to Megan Scott, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | Magpie and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.