3.5/5 I absolutely love the story of Hades and Persephone. I was worried I wouldn’t like a retelling involving vampires, but I was pleasantly surprised. Overall a different read than I’m used to but still enjoyed.

I really liked this book, Levana is such an powerful women, the world building and story is beautiful and i mean who can say no to a vampire king? i can really recommend it!

Romantasy at it's best! A loose parallel with Hades and Persephone, but with vampires, and fae, and humans - fated mates and strong friendships vs evil families, huge ego, and greed. Betrayals, adventure, and steam round things out and everything comes together in a HEA. A super fun read!

Vampires, forced proximity, forced marriage and tension.. Well this book definitly as it all.. I devour it and I love it.. How can I resist a book like this,, The plot was great and the story still has a lot more to explore and I can't wait for it

Princess Levana Rhazien, the only heir to a big-shot in Eziron, never gave her fate a second thought. Chillin' in her dad's palace, she hangs with her plants and pets, waitin' for her time to be queen. But then, outta nowhere, the vampire ruler from up north snatches her up at her party. Now she's all by herself up in the freezing north, with vamps everywhere. She's gotta figure out how to stay alive in this crazy new world she's stuck in.

In the story, Levana's character changes a lot. She goes from being a sheltered princess to a tough survivor who has to deal with a lot of challenges that make her stronger. The vampire king, Orion Lothaire, brings an interesting twist to the story and makes things more exciting. Levana's emotional journey is really well written by Wilde, making her a character that readers can root for. The descriptions in the book really make you feel like you're in the wintry landscapes and in the middle of all the palace drama. There's a good balance of action and reflection that lets you connect with the characters on a deeper level. The imagery in the book really sets the tone for the dark fantasy world that Wilde has created, making it a really immersive reading experience. The pacing of the story keeps you hooked and wanting to know what happens next.

The book talks about power, duty, love, and sacrifice. Levana struggles with being a princess and wanting freedom. The interactions between vampires and humans make you think about prejudice, trust, and alliances. The author blends these ideas well into the story and makes you think about your own choices. "Masters of Blood" is a captivating mix of romance, fantasy, and politics. Fans of similar books will enjoy the dark and passionate vibes. Some people might find the pace a bit off sometimes, but it leaves a lasting impression. I suggest this book if you want to escape to a world of danger, desire, and secrets. It's definitely worth starting a war for, like the tagline says.

#MastersofBlood #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The overall premise of the book was interesting. The execution, however, was significantly lacking. I almost DNFed this book at multiple points for the following reasons:

- Strange / incorrect word choice for common objects
- Incorrect grammar choices
- (Personal preference) Contemporary language in a fantasy setting. This takes me out of the world and story.
- The FMC was frustrating and annoying

I got emotional whiplash between the split second where the FMC decides that she loves the MMC and he goes from feral to sweet and emotional.

I think the biggest let down was that the book blurb, which initially drew me in to request this ARC, was more well-written than the book itself. 🥴

Leveana is a human Princess and only heir to a human King. She is kidnapped from her engagement party by the Vampire King Orion. She finds herself in his kingdom surrounded by vampires and at the mercy of the vampire king she knows nothing about. Orion is hellbent on making her his bride, and does very little explaining as to why and has a consequences be damned attitude about it.

Let me start off by saying I didn't read the description very well because I missed the whole Hades and Persephone retelling but I love retellings so when I clicked in my brain I was all for it. I actually really liked Leveana, I like how her character growth was almost immediate and it was pointed out more than once by her best friend. I adore Amika- shes a true girls girl. Orion, wow just wow. Honestly he gave me the vibes of Hades with the shadows but also very much Dracula. I loved the nods to vampiric compulsion, even as subtle as they were. I enjoyed his character a lot. But I do absolutely adore Hades so this did surprise me. I was surprised by the Lestat character and would've loved more on him. I enjoyed that Orion didn't immediately turn Leveana and the explanation was well done. The touch her and die trope was very obvious and just added to the attraction of Orion. But i loved even more so that he gave Leveana choice and power.

Okay enough about the characters and more on the rest. I enjoyed the story line and how a lot of it kept me guessing what was going to happen next. It picks up from page one and was paced really well. I did not feel bored at any point. The world building was interesting. Different realms within a larger Kingdom. Some areas were obviously more built than others. I enjoyed the magic especially the shadows. I loved the attachment to the animals and plants too, I don't know why or how that caught me off guard, but I LOVED it. I could definitely see inspiration coming from different sources, Hades and Persephone, Dracula, maybe a little Twilight (looking at you secluded island for 2). I did notice a few typos which were a little distracting usually I can look past them but more than once I had to reread to make sure i was getting the point.

Overall this was a 4/5 for me. I know this is a standalone and it was tied up really nicely but I think I need more!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me this ARC.

I was very intrigued by the plot of this book when I first read it and was very excited to read this ARC. The idea of a vampire Hades and Persephone retelling sounded amazing! Unfortunately, I just don't think this book was for me. The idea was there but I don't think it was executed very well.
This book was extremely fast paced to the point where the relationship between the MCs' felt too insta-lovely and I just didn't feel any real connection between them, it was just lust and nothing more. It was very rushed to the point I couldn't really enjoy it.
There were also a couple of grammatical/spelling errors that were missed during editing.
The world was fine, I just wish it had been more detailed. I wanted a little more world building than what we got.
Since the beginning of the book, it felt like we were setting up for this big epic battle and the ending that we got was just felt very anticlimactic.

I'm sure there are a lot of people that will enjoy this book very much, which makes me happy; but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.

Regarding the story - I loved it! This was an easy romantic fantasy read and it gave me all I wanted from that genre. Orion has my heart, and can call me good girl any time!

Regarding the writing - I know this is an uncorrected proof, but it had SO many typos, weird sentence structure, and grammatical errors. I truly hope the published version is cleaned up and improved as it made the reading experience a bit difficult when I ran into so many errors,

Masters of Blood is the vampire romance I didn’t know I needed. While I normally tend to not like vampire romance, due to how cheesy they can be, “Masters of Blood” is anything but. From the first chapter you are thrown in a world , that to me, is brimming with this gothic sort of ambiance and magic. I was instantly captivated by our Vampire King and totally see what his appeal was all about. This book is a semi fast read that for sure got me out of my deep reading slump.

Thank you NetGalley for access to this ARC.

The Not So Great:
•The romance in this book felt very rushed from both sides. Orion deciding that he needed to marry Levana immediately felt too unrealistic, even for a fantasy romance novel. I wish there had been moments during the initial meeting where Orion got to know her so their relationship didn’t feel superficial.
•There wasn’t time for flesh out an enemies to lovers story between them because the relationship built out of almost nothing.
•Orion and Levana being twin flames is out of nowhere and incredibly too cliche in the worst way. The concept of twin flames is fine, but without fleshing out the characters and their relationships well, it doesn’t pay off as well as the audience would have wanted it to.

The Fine:
•The spice is fine. On a story level, it would have meant more if their relationship would have been built up. It just felt like two horny individuals enjoying each other.
•I’m at a loss as to if I’m supposed to feel like the story ended and wrapped things up or if there are supposed to be loose threads. I wish this story would be a larger ongoing story without having books with individual storylines of different characters.

I unfortunately didn't like this book.

I didn't feel like Levana had any actual depth. Her character was very flat and extremely stubborn at every turn. I do attribute some of that to the fact that she was extremely sheltered, however she didn't seem to have any direction. It also put me off that all it took was her arrival in Orion's castle to bring out a supposedly 'feisty' personality. It felt very much like she just wanted to be difficult, and I had an extremely difficult time relating to her character.

Beyond that, I don't really understand what the plot was. There was all this mention of preparing for war, this building conflict related to Orion taking her, and then it just went absolutely nowhere. The first half of the book didn't really have a storyline beyond Levana arguing with Orion, and while things did turn around a little in the second half, I was expecting building conflict. The ending/resolution to the war situation was very anticlimactic. I'm not quite sure if it's the style of writing or if I think this could have used some more editing, but this just wasn't for me.

2.5/5 ⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the book!

Overall I liked the story. The writing left a lot to be desired, maybe it was just a writing style that I didn’t personally vibe with. I did find some errors (not a huge deal). The world building for me was hit and miss, I liked the idea of the world and kingdoms but would have liked more details. I found most of what was provided very surface level, but then things like the plants and food were described in a lot of detail. There were parts that were hard to get through and I felt like there was a lot of filler versus plot.

Having said that, I really liked the friendship between Levana and Anika. Their banter was enjoyable. Insta love isn’t my favorite trope but I liked King Orion.

Masters of Blood by Karolina Wilde follows princess Levana as she gets married off to King Nikolas. Or so she thought, until vampire King Orion comes into play. This was my first read by Karolina, but I can guarantee it won’t be my last. Her writing was captivating and well descriptive. I could picture the environment so well.
I truly loved the writing, however there was a spelling error on page 244. “….. but I could note tell the difference.” I’m sure it was supposed to be not in that context.
All in all, I truly loved this book and its characters. Princess Levana finally came into her own after King Orion showed he what real love feels like. This book also displayed that just because family is blood, does not always mean they deserve your time and attention. I highly recommend this book for the spicy fantasy romance readers. Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I am so glad I found this book. I can’t stop thinking about it.
This book is hot, hot hot. The twist on Hades and Persephone kept me reading all night long.
Levana was kidnapped by vampire King Orion and forced to marry him. With time she falls in love with him. And who can blame her with this sexy vampire. He is not shy about showing her his affection for her.
I can’t wait to read the next book of the series . 5 stars without a doubt.

DNF @ 35 % I hate to do this, but this was just not well written. I should have been more careful in requesting this. There were so many errors, not just simple things that might be caught in later editing, but major, distracting issues. Not the kind of thing that might be redeemed if I continued to read, unfortunately. If the story was compelling enough to make up for it, that might be one thing, but alas.

Thanks to Karolina Wilde and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll start by saying that I haven’t read many retellings of the Hades and Persephone myth, so I can’t compare it to other popular retelling. However, ever since I read the book description and requested an ARC from NetGalley, this was one of my most anticipated reads. So, many thanks to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read "Masters of Blood" before it came out. Without further ado, let’s dive into this spicy fantasy romance.

“Masters of Blood” by Karolina Wilde is a thrilling novel that reimagines the timeless tale of Hades and Persephone through the lens of vampires. The story was fast-paced and easy to read.

Masters of Blood is a retelling of Hades and Persephone, but with vampires and humans. The narrative revolves around Orion, a vampire ruler hailing from the realm of Obridora, and Levana, a princess who is human. During a gathering of leaders, Levana is publicly introduced for the first time in her entire existence, catching Orion’s attention. Orion is instantly attracted to her, but she doesn’t even acknowledge him because vampires have a bad reputation among humans. When Orion discovers that he is promised to the solitary human ruler in their realm, he realizes he must step in, even if it means kidnapping her and potentially initiating a war, to obtain what he desires the most.

What I loved
Karolina Wilde masterfully weaves together elements of passion and plot, creating a story that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end. The blend of spice and storyline is expertly executed, and I enjoyed the incorporation of the shadows into those scenes as well.

Throughout the narrative, Levana, the FMC, underwent substantial character development. Levana started off as a timid and sheltered girl, lacking emotional maturity and being taken advantage of by her family. With the progression of the story, her self-assurance increased. While I absolutely loved Orion’s character, his quick wit, and his explicit language, I couldn’t help but feel that his character lacked the depth that Levana had. Although we did receive some additional details about him towards the end, I still yearned for more.

What didn’t resonate with me
I enjoyed this story, but I think the pacing occasionally falters, veering between moments of languid exploration and hurried escalation. The climax, in particular, felt somewhat rushed, detracting from the otherwise immersive experience, but the epilogue was quite satisfying. Also, it got a bit repetitive at times.

Tropes and themes
With great finesse, Wilde examines enduring literary tropes and themes, presenting a fresh perspective on the classic story of Hades and Persephone by intertwining it with vampire lore.

- Hades x Persephone retelling

- Enemies to lovers

- Touch her and die

- Shadow magic

- He falls first

One of my favorite quotes:

“Go to hell.”King Orion smirked. “Only if you go with me.”

Conclusion
“Masters of Blood” is an amazing read that vampire romance fans will love. It’s a bit uneven in its pacing and character development, but the premise is captivating and the passion is intense, so it’s definitely a memorable journey. Karolina Wilde’s retelling of a timeless myth will leave readers craving more, eager to lose themselves once again in the shadows of Obridora.

The world building was great. The only thing I was missing, was how the vampires got humans? Didn’t know if they bread humans for slaughter or if they had people willingly coming to them? Maybe I missed something?

Romance was intense. It was an emotionally slow burn, it took some time for Levana to get her feelings in order but the attraction was there. Who wouldn’t be turned on by a gorgeous vampire king?
The chemistry Levana and Orion had was there. It was passion, love and possessive. All you could want in a fantasy romance.

Levana grew so much as a person during this journey. From letting people walk all over her to be her own person and taking charge of her life.

In the end it felt like the story ended but the second book is coming. I need it now.

I enjoyed this book but I think the pacing was a bit too inconstant, feeling dragged or rushed at times. Especially the end felt a bit rushed, but the epilogue part was quite satisfying.

What really got on my nerves (and I'll die on this hill) is the corset part. While some were indeed tight lacing, corsets can be very comfortable and not at all movement impairing.

Back to the plot, it is more like a romantic story with vampires than an adventure or anything. There are politics, but I feel like we could've benefited from more details regarding how the system work.

The relationship was okay, and I really liked how the MMC treated issues at times, but kidnapping and then falling in love is a bit wattpad-y to me.

All in all, it is an enjoyable book, but it could benefit from some fine tuning.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a vampire retelling of Hades and Persephone. The story was fast paced, and a quick read. I had a hard time getting into it, but I would continue reading as a series and would read more from the author.