An energetic, thrilling dystopian read. It grabs you and holds on, and won't allow you to put it down until its conclusion.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get through this one. I found the world building in the beginning of the book to be very complex. I'm not a huge fantasy reader so it was hard for me to keep track of everything going on.

I supposed I was attracted by the magic word Blade Runner but Philip Dick is another type of writer.
This is the spin off a series and it can be quite confusing if you didn't read the series like me
It's quite confusing and I think I missed most of the nuances.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

**3.5 Stars**
So this is a spin off book from the True Born series (which I loved and highly recommend) and the author says this can be read without having read the True Born series and I disagree. I think even after having read the original series, it has been a few years and I felt like this was missing details I wanted more on. I read this with a friend who knows nothing about the original series and she felt a little lost and I had to fill her in.

All that being said, I like the direction of the romance here and would have loved more interaction between the two and less random mention of backstory they had. I did like learning about the cult and that dynamic as well and all the action that took place here. The magic is interesting and unique and the characters are well developed. The ending hinted that another book could be on the way and I would definitely pick it up.

The author constructed a magnificent world building with unique magic system. I loved the dystopian elements.

Serena and her friend set up a challenging mission after the children went missing. She's partnering with her enemy--Nolan as their mission got tangled up.
The author execute a great story line with the perfect flow, that makes it easier to comprehend the plot. I just found out this is a spin-off series, I'll be looking forward to read the True Born Trilogy.

Although this one doesn't tell you on the cover that it is a spin off. The author leaves a note in the first part of the book. That being said I wish I would have known that before I started this one. I felt like I had been tossed into the middle of a story that was already going and I was completely confused about everything. I think I might go back and read the other series first. Then come back to this one at a later date. But fair warning don't read this one if you haven't done the other series.

In Dominion City, Serena has a rare gift. She's the only known Salvager, with the ability to see True Born DNA. Unfortunately this gift came at the cost of the rest of her sight. Luckily, she has her best friend and familiar, Carl, a True Born cat-man to help her out. At the start of the story, Serena and Carl are hiding out from the True Born leader, Nolan Storm, who believes that they had betrayed him. However, they are soon to join forces when children of the city start to go missing and a mysterious cult-like group from Serena's past reappears. As Serena and Nolan race to solve the mystery, they grow closer and closer. Hopefully they can discover the truth before it's too late for Dominion City.

This is quite a unique and interesting dystopian fantasy. I do have to say that it was definitely a bit confusing at the start. I wasn't aware that this was a spinoff series, and I assume that if I had read those previously, the world would have been clearer. After finishing this novel, I feel that I understand the world well enough, but there could be bits and pieces that fell through the cracks. Either way, I really enjoyed the story. Serena is a tough leading lady. She doesn't let anything get in her way, despite being blind in the absence of True Born DNA. Nolan is the perfect strong and sexy love interest for Serena, and I loved watching their interactions. The magic system stands out in the genre, and I am curious to see how it develops. I'm interested in picking up the earlier trilogy, and definitely the next installment in Serena's story as well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

A glamour of blood is a book I had so much fun reading! Do you know that feeling where you just feel a rush of adrenaline and your pulse just beats repeatedly. Well that's how I felt throughout this whole book.
Blade-runner meets divergent in this high-energy and high-stakes dystopian read. This book has a compelling plot, amazing writing and a story that will keep you hanging on!

Stars- 5/5!

I really loved and enjoyed A Glamour of Blood!! I quickly connected to the cast of characters and was so invested in the story! The tension between Serena and Nolan is sooo intense and has me wanting more (which is why I feel like I read this sooo fast!) If you like enemies to lovers this is a MUST READ! This is a YA novel so there are no "spicy" scenes but I promise you that the banter and tension throughout the story make it well worth the read alongside the well-crafted plot which I want to avoid spoiling!

Plot-wise though I did not expect nearly half the twists that happened in this story and the action kept the story moving which I really enjoyed. On top of this, the dystopian world-building was so rich and well-crafted that it was easy to get lost in this story. Overall I loved this story and am so glad I received an arc!

Seriously though you need to read this book and the True Born Trilogy!

Thank you to the author and Entangled Publishing for the early copy in exchange for an honest review! For more reviews and bookish content, you can find me on Instagram @3am_bookmarks !

"A Glamour of Blood" by L.E. Sterling unveils a mesmerizing world that beckons readers into its dark and enchanting depths. This book, the first in the series, promises an immersive journey into a unique blend of urban fantasy and captivating storytelling.

Set against an evocative backdrop, the narrative introduces us to Serena Rogue, a young woman who has navigated the unforgiving streets of Dominion City since her tender age of twelve. Abandoned by her stepmother and ostracized by her clan following her mother's demise, Serena stands as the last of the enigmatic Salvagers, wielding a remarkable and singular gift. Her ability to discern 'True Born' DNA, manifested as talismans, marks her as a singular force in a world teetering on the edge of magic and mystery.

The story gains momentum when children from Serena's former childhood gang, known as the 'Rogue Army,' inexplicably disappear. Guided by her unwavering bond with Carl, her extraordinary friend —a hybrid of man and cat—Serena embarks on a perilous quest to locate them. Along the way, she forms an uneasy alliance with Nolan Storm, the enigmatic leader of the True Borns, with whom she shares a history steeped in betrayal and enmity. Their intertwined fates lead to a series of encounters that continually delay Serena's seemingly inevitable demise.

"A Glamour of Blood" delivers an action-packed YA fantasy experience that immerses readers in its richly crafted world. At the heart of the story lies an intricate magic system that adds depth and distinctiveness to the narrative. Serena's ability to perceive the vivid hues of True Born DNA, despite her blindness, is a captivating concept that sets this book apart.

While maintaining a young adult rating, the novel masterfully navigates tension between the characters, weaving a magnetic attraction between Serena and Nolan that infuses the story with palpable intensity. Their interactions are charged with a chemistry that will elicit visceral reactions, from heart-pounding moments to captivating exchanges.

In conclusion, "A Glamour of Blood" is a must-read for enthusiasts of YA fantasy. It promises an enthralling journey through a world brimming with magic and intrigue. The anticipation for subsequent installments in this series is palpable.

As a reviewer, I had the privilege of delving into an advanced copy of this book, and I can attest that my thoughts are genuinely my own. My heartfelt thanks extend to L.E. Sterling for crafting this captivating world and to Net Galley and Entangled Publishing for allowing me to explore the enchanting realm of "A Glamour of Blood."

I have contradicting feelings about this book. I enjoyed the story and the characters, but it felt like if I had read the author's previous books, I wouldn't have been as confused as I was.

I previously read the True Born trilogy and when I saw this pop up in my email, I had into satisfy my curiosity & request it.

You don’t necessarily have to read the prior trilogy to read this one but it would definitely help with background & world building. The main three characters were also in the trilogy but we didn’t get much (if any) one-on-one time with them. Especially Serena & Carl. I will say that I loved the characters in this book more than the trilogy – the Fox sisters were awesome in their own way but Serena is more my jam. She’s strong, fierce & loyal – smart and doesn’t incessantly martyr herself or pine. If things ever hit the fan & people start mutating, I’ll just say this – if I don’t have a cat-man familiar like Carl I will be sorely disappointed.

“I whirl on Carl. “Calm down? Am I some hysterical female who needs a man to keep her in line? Am I some distressed damsel in need of rescue?’”

Learning about factions other than the ones in the trilogy made this book just as interesting. I was never an overly big fan of the Splicers and it was kinda nice to see their butts handed to them. Seeing Dominion City through the “sight” of someone not in the higher echelon made a difference too. I also liked the supporting cast in this book more – it would be nice if some of Storm’s supporting characters got a little more page time too.

I would like to give a huge thank you to Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read this book & dive back into the world of Dominion City. I’m excited to see where Serena & Nolan’s story heads from the ending of this book.

This book was good the writing was good, the plot was fun and interesting and kept me intrigued throughout the book.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

This book was a wild ride for me. At the start and throughout the book I have no idea what is going on in this world. How did the world get to be like this? Who are these different types of people? It’s like I missed a whole few chapters of how we got to where we started.

The best part of it though, is even though I was totally lost in the world building, I absolutely ate up this book. The storyline was great and the characters were refreshing and different. The way the main characters have an enemies to lovers-ish arc is one of my favorites and this story is no different. The mystery of missing kids and trying to find them had me eagerly turning pages. Overall I’d definitely recommend reading this if you can move past the fact that It starts in the middle of a world that isn’t explained.

I'll keep it short, because it I have mixed feelongs about writing this.

Before I started this book, I didn’t realise that it was a spin-off series (which I haven’t read). Did I wish I had read it first, so that certain details were clearer from the get go? Yes. Do I think that it was require to understand the story? Not completely. Still, I find myself struggling to really get into the story, as it does feel like it is referencing things that I guess were in the other trilogy. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the other trilogy, as there was a lot of potential and interesting twits.

Part of me wonders if I should check out the True Born trilogy and then revisit this one, to see if it would impact my reading experience. I do wish it had been clearer before I got the book, because it wasn’t mentioned anywhere other than in the intro to the book. Maybe I’ll give it a shot a some point.

**Arc Review**

I’m going to start of with saying, please please read the True Born trilogy prior to reading A Glamour of Blood, you will do yourself a favour. Although this is a standalone spin off book, I was confused throughout the start of the book which almost lead me to DNF – but I’m glad I didn’t. Throughout the book there are lots of references to the previous trilogy which does make it hard to read.

Once you get past this confusion I enjoyed reading about the world, learning about the magic and following the storyline. The characters I felt were strongly built and I really enjoyed reading about them. Carl is, of course, my favourite and when he was first introduced I really REALLY struggled to imagine a cat-man, Serena is a an awesome female main character, however I wish i had more understanding and information regarding her back story. Nolan i feel was an even match for Serena and definitely make a strong couple.

I would not recommend this as a standalone book though, you need to understand the world more prior to reading this.

This is definitely catered towards YA more than NA, and if you are a fan of a dystopian world, enemies to lovers, urban fantasy and a kick ass female lead (with a fu1n sidekick) you will enjoy this book.

3.5⭐️

Thank you Netgalley for providing me the opportunity to read and review this book 😊

Thank you Net Galley for giving me a copy of this book for my honest review!

Honestly, I was really excited for this book, it sounded so good and it was to some degree, but it would have been even better if I'd known that it was a spin-off of a series. There's almost no character development or backstory because again, its a spinoff so you'd get that in the original series, but I had no knowledge and found myself getting really confused at times due to lack of context. I did like some parts, but I wish I'd read the first series because I think this one has potential that I didn't really get to experience this time around.

2.5 stars ⭐️

On the front cover, above the butterfly it says All that glitters is deadly.
Isn't that grammatically incorrect? I rated this book 4/5 stars because I greatly enjoyed it. I liked the touch of romance between Nolan Storm and Serena Rogue. I loved the idea of the true borns. I think L.E. Sterling spun a masterful tale with this book I would definitely recommend this book to anyone I talk to.

While A Glamour of Blood is technically a standalone, it is a spin-off of LE Sterling’s previous series, The True Born trilogy, and I highly recommend reading that series first because A Glamour of Blood seems to pick up right in the middle of The True Born’s story so a lot of the backstory isn’t there in this book, making it harder to grasp what is going on.

Although I felt like the character introduction was lacking (again, from being a spin-off I’m sure), the character- and world-building was beautiful. It’s clear that LE Sterling puts in a lot of thought in work in creating a beautiful, complex world and characters, and I’m sure I would’ve liked the book so much more had I had a better understanding of what I was reading (again, I highly recommend reading the True Born trilogy first!). All in all I’d say it’s definitely a solid read if you’re into YA, dystopian, fantasy, and unique magic!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the eARC of A Glamour of Blood. All opinions are my own.