A female lead you will fall in love with!
Overall
5
A House of Blood and Bane Book Cover A House of Blood and Bane
Order and Chaos
Alexis Menard
Romantic Fantasy, Gaslamp Fantasy, Fantasy Romance
Midnight Tide Publishing
October 19, 2023
Hardback, paperback, e-reader, audio
430

In a city split into two opposing sides, power comes in many forms: bloodlines, money, love, and—most importantly—secrets.

An heiress in the most notorious family in Lynchaven, Camilla Marchese is doing all she can to keep her family’s syndicate, the Iron Saint Railway, from slipping into bankruptcy. When the gorgeous and depraved Nicolai Attano, the leader of a rival family, offers to pay off the Inspector in exchange for her hand, she has no choice but to give up not only her throne—but her name.

Nico has his own motivations for their union beyond maintaining peace with her family. A serial kidnapper known as The Collector has been ravaging the streets of Remnant Row, stirring up mistrust between natives and descendants. If Milla can help restore safety to his streets, he’ll have no need for her or her family’s company. Find the Collector, prevent a war between their sides of the city, and pay off the family debt before she turns twenty-one. If Milla can fulfill her end of the bargain, she’ll walk away with more freedom than she’s ever had before.

But this deal plunges Milla into the city’s dark underbelly where remnant magic and arcane science compete in a deadly game of depravity. When forbidden feelings rise for her new husband and dark family secrets come to light, Milla must discover the truth about her past before it gets them both killed or worse—collected.

Set in a post-industrial age setting on a magical Isle, Peaky Blinders meets the magic system of the Grishaverse in this rivals-to-lovers adult fantasy romance.

House of Bane and Blood will have you rooting for the characters from the first pages!

House of Bane and Blood by Alexis L. Menard is the story fantasy romance lovers look for! It has angsty slow burn, witty banter, and a sassy FMC. This book gave me so much anxiety that I had to take breaks but I couldn’t stop thinking about it, even in my sleep!

What to expect:

  • Rivals to Lovers
  • Forced Marriage/ Marriage of convenience
  • Twisty plot
  • Magic and magical beings
  • Touch her and die
  • Industrial age esc
  • Mechanical hand

The characters are relatable and imperfect. I appreciate character development because if they have to go through hell I want to know how it changes them.

I love Milla so much! She doesn’t put up with Nico’s or anyone’s crap, except maybe her brothers. Milla’s brothers don’t respect her, making her family dynamic interesting and complicated. While Nico first appears to be a scheming, arrogant, jokester, everything he does is for his family and those he loves. He tries to hide it, but he’s into Milla from their first encounter. However, with the feud between their families, his intentions are questionable. You could say he’s morally light grey, lol

“I particulary like the way you say my name when you’re frustrated, as it gives me a hint of how you’d say it in my bed.”

Their love story is one you won’t forget soon.

“I see you Milla. I see all of you. The good, the better, the best, because there is no bad in you. You are enough.”

The world is new and unique with a magic system that isn’t complicated to understand. The fighting factions make the stakes high from the start making it impossible not to become invested. The side characters are lovable, leaving you rooting for them and praying to the book gods for a spinoff.

Final thoughts, read House of Bane and Blood by Alexis L. Menard immediately!