Blood Borne was a great novel that really plays on the idea that sometimes you have to make bad choices in order to do the right thing.

Bloodborne (#3)
Archer Kay Leah
Stars: 3

I received this e-arc through Less Than Three Press and Netgalley in exchange for a free and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Note that even though this is the third book in a series, it can be read as a standalone.

I like how each book expands on the world and how different characters see/experience it based on their religion or stature/class. I mean, yes, it’s the same world, but through a different character’s eyes, which basically gives the readers a chance to enter the world again.

The author incorporates the Goddess concept and characters who are Goddess touched into the story in such a way that you can’t help but get engrossed (as I love magic).

As for the two main characters, Adren and Ress, they were interesting, mostly because it took me longer to like them than in the other two books (A Question of Counsel – Aeley and Lira; Four – Tash and Mayr). They’re (Adren and Ress) not badly written, I think I just didn’t like their personalities until they proved themselves to me.

Ress is cornered between two opposing factions while all he wants is a quiet life with his family. Arden is trapped by duty to the Shar-denn and the orders to hunt down Ress for betraying them yet Arden finds the growing feelings for Ress may outweigh the task.

Setting aside how fucking confusing the pronouns for a nonbinary/gender queer character (Arden) are without knowing them before you start this book and think they are typos, it is the characters that make this book. The writing makes them come alive but the rest? I sadly found it tiresome. Boring isn't quite the word because I made it through the book without my mind fogging and my eyes glazing over but if what made the impact is the new pronouns making me feel like an out of touch old geezer, then something is missing. Not bad, took a chance with a character like Arden which needs to happen more, but ultimately a 3.5.

Thank you netgalley and LessThanThree Press for letting me read this book. Unfortunately, this book isn't a book for me. I appreciate the LGBT+ representation but it's dramatic and not written in a way I'm fond of. I'm not linking a review because I wasn't able to bring myself to finish the book.

Ress' life has been a difficult one hiding from the gang he betrayed, working for the council that wants information about that gang, and trying to stay with his family. Then he meets Adren and all his priorities are suddenly thrown into chaos. Unfortunately, Adren's presence only hastens the inevitability of Ress' death.

The characterizations in this story were absolutely phenomenal. Adren's balance between female, male, and something in between was perfectly written and the emotion that went into every aspect of cir actions really drew me into the story. Ress' emotions were also perfect, with just enough stress and drama that his reasons for acting the way he did made sense.

Unfortunately, outside of the characterizations I didn't find much to like about this book. The plot itself was boring. It dragged and there didn't appear to be much progress at all until it suddenly all came to a head. This story could have easily been half the length, which would have still allowed for the characters to grow, but would have cut down on the overly long plot.