Happy publication day! I love a good winter read. This reminded me of Winterfell but more PG. I didn’t enjoy the siblings. The side characters were okay. The romance didn’t feel authentic buts hard to do and keep it YA. The pacing and plot were mixed for me. The writing did feel smooth & easy to read quickly. Thank you so much for this author, publisher, and NetGalley!

Blood Beneath the Snow was such an incredible read, it's raw and gripping from the very first page and doesn't let up for a single second. The world building is unreal, the stakes are high, and the slow burn BURNS. I didn't really have a thing for masked men before this but those days... are gone. The character development throughout the story, the atmosphere, the twists, the banter, are all so so well done and so amazingly immersive. I genuinely had to stop myself from flying through this because I knew I would be sad when I finished and I was correct, I did not want it to end and I'm already dying to know what happens next. I can't recommend this one enough!!

I really wanted to like this book. The premise, setting, and overall vibe are totally up my alley, especially since I've been on a norse romantasy kick lately. However, the plot was incredibly slow and the characters did not captivate me. With its simple prose and notes of social commentary, "Blood Beneath the Snow" might be better fit for a younger demographic. Unfortunately, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

This is an enemies-to-??? fantasy with some spice scenes and semi-romantic elements (probably more in the second book of the duology) for fans of books like Fourth Wing, Lady of Darkness, and The Stars Are Dying. It was not for me, unfortunately, but I can definitely see it finding a passionate audience.

The book follows a "godforsaken" (i.e., someone without magical powers) princess who lives in a kingdom ruled by those with magical powers, including her family. She is abused, mistreated, considered useless because of her lack of magic, but she also acts mostly like a rebellious teenager. She tries to do good without thinking of the overall consequences and then is shocked when there are consequences, she has some minor training in combat but knows she'll never best those with powers--and then jumps in to wanting to join a trial to the death with only people with powers.

This is a common theme throughout the book--the FMC is shown to be petulant, not particularly competent (which makes a LOT of sense based on her background and how she was raised!) but then is still constantly thrusting herself into situations that don't fit her level of experience or ability, and either throwing a temper tantrum when she cannot succeed or succeeding against all plot logic. This really stopped me from being able to enjoy the book, because I was highly frustrated at the POV character. I also wish there had been more character work with Hellbringer other than "he wears a mask and is dangerous," and I did not particularly feel the chemistry for their relationship, such as it was, outside of physical attraction (which, since I am reading the book and not visually seeing the characters, was less compelling).

I did, however, enjoy some of the twists in the last 25%. I think that the major twist was fairly obviously given the typical tropes and the set up, but how it was expressed was still a surprise and enjoyable. I also have some additional theories about what will be revealed in Book 2.

I ended up liking this book a lot more than I thought I was going to halfway through. I liked the concept a lot; it wasn’t necessarily original but the actual story isn’t as it’s described in the blurb - it’s better. I liked the characters too, which helped keep me invested in the story. I think the story suffered from some issues with pacing. It started really strong, then lulled, then come back, then lulled, but closed with a hell of an end. So throughout I felt similarly varying levels of investment. I think my biggest issue was with the name Hellraiser. It felt so out of place and so painfully English amongst the Nordic names of the other characters. I wish he’d been given a similarly Nordic name that translated to that, rather than the name itself. Every time I saw it, it jarred me out of the story a bit and his name came up a lot. I liked but didn’t love the relationship between the MMC and FMC. The power dynamic there and how often it was acknowledged made it feel off. But I also liked the way that they learned one another and when they came together, the spice was well written and well placed. I liked the side characters as well, though I wish we had more of an opportunity to get to know them more. I also wish there had been more depth to the world and the lore. It felt like we got the same few lines over and over, but I had so many more questions and this was an instance where I was dying to know more. I also have a love/hate relationship with the end. It wasn’t what I was expecting, it wasn’t necessarily what I wanted, but I am fully invested in reading the other half of the duology as a result so, well played.

I really liked this! I was super excited for it and it did not disappoint. I've been on a bit of a romantasy kick lately, so I was especially excited to get to this. I loved how twisty this story was, and I thought that the concept was really interesting. I liked the world, and the romance. I especially loved Revna--I wish more FMC were this headstrong and badass, I love when the characters in a romantasy are emotionally intelligent and compelling like this. I don't want to give too much away, but this was SO GOOD. I also really appreciated that the author took the time to list out CW/TW at the beginning of the book, because if you're like me and you don't enjoy being jumpscared by a sexual assault scene, it's really nice to feel comfortable going into the book knowing what to expect. I'm really enjoying that more and more authors seem to be doing this in their books.

Rating: 4/5

Blood Beneath the Snow is a thrilling whirlwind that grabbed me by the heart and didn’t let go. This book is full of jaw-dropping twists and ruthless betrayals that will have you questioning every character’s true intentions. If you’re someone who loves suspenseful plots where nothing is as it seems, this book will have you glued to the pages, constantly on edge. The whole thing plays out like a game of chess—but not the kind where you can predict the next move. It's a battle of wits, where every piece has a hidden agenda and a single wrong step could shatter everything.

Now, let's talk about the tropes because, wow, does this book deliver. Forced proximity? One bed? You betcha. And then there's the masked villain—because no thrilling political drama would be complete without a shadowy figure lurking, waiting to make their move. And, of course, the best part is trying to figure out who the villain really is. There’s a delicious tension throughout, where every twist makes you gasp and wonder if you’ve been played all along.

Revna, our protagonist, is everything you could want in a princess who’s fighting for her place in a brutal power struggle. She's tough, smart, and determined, but she’s also the black sheep of her family—born without the magical powers her siblings possess. As the Bloodshed Trials approach, she’s ready to prove herself worthy of the throne, even if it means facing her family’s scorn. But when she’s kidnapped by the infamous Hellbringer, everything changes. He’s not just her captor—he might be the key to her survival, and possibly even her path to overthrowing her own family. The dynamic between them is electric, as their fates become intertwined in ways neither of them anticipated.

The world Alexandra has crafted is immersive and richly layered. The magic system, the political intrigue, and the intricate relationships create a story that is both epic and deeply personal. And then there’s Hellbringer—oh, Hellbringer. A complicated character who drew me in with his dark allure. Their relationship is an emotional rollercoaster, with enough tension to keep you hooked, but also a slow burn that made every interaction between them feel charged and meaningful. By the end of the book, I was left completely stunned, especially after that cliffhanger. What’s going to happen next?! I need the next book now!

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC!

Thank you @berkleypub @acebookspub for the free book! All opinions are my own.

The stunning cover of this romantasy book easily caught my eye, and the story inside captured my attention.

Revna is the only member of the royal family without a magical ability, and she has endured constant abuse and belittling over the years for that fact. She chooses to spend her time with other nonmagical people (the godforsaken), stirring up a rebellion against her family. When she is captured by a mysterious man they call the Hellbringer, she learns that there are others out there who want her to become the queen, and they have kidnapped her to train and fight against her brothers for the crown in the Bloodshed Trials.

The author packs a ton of action and world building into one book, as we learn about the magical systems, the kingdom's history, and the current war. I was immediately invested in the story and its bitterly cold and atmospheric setting.

Revna's character is full of determination and courage, and I loved seeing her development over the course of the story. She goes through way more than your average 21 year old in this bingeworthy, captivating story, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens in book two of this duology. The ending was jam-packed with action, gruesome at times, and left me with about a zillion questions, so I'll just be impatiently waiting over here for the next one!

Blood Beneath the Snow is an engaging and action packed romantasy.

Revna is a princess of a kingdom at war. Born without magic, she is godforsaken, which is not only embarrassing for her royal family, but looked down upon by the elite godtouched. When she refuses her arranged marriage and puts an alliance with a neighboring kingdom at risk to compete in the Bloodshed Trials, she not only risks her life, but the life of her friends and all the godforsaken in the kingdom. When her greatest enemy, the mysterious and powerfully lethal Hellbringer finds her, Revna must decide to either trust him, or risk losing everything she has fought for.

I really enjoyed this one! It was engaging and fast paced, and the story was really intriguing. Revna was a interesting character - she is the only one in her family without magic, so she is shunned and considered an utter embarrassment, But as a royal, she doesn't fit in with the godforsaken either. So she does what she can to fight against the disparity between the two groups, often risking her own life in the process. The Hellbringer was also an exciting character - he has the backing of powerful figures, but is mysterious and dangerous and flawed in his own ways. This book had a thrilling ending, and left me reeling. As the first book in a duology, there are some open questions at the end of the book, and I am looking forward to the second in this great series!

Thank you so, so much to NetGalley and Berkely Ace for the Advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

This was incredibly bland and toneless, yet I didn’t want to DNF. The concept of deadly trials in a Norse inspired world with a mysterious masked man kept me reading but I’m unsure how I feel about this after finishing. The Hellbringer was carrying this book for me. Every time he was even mentioned I was intrigued. But then his personality started to show once the dialogue started and I felt his actions were a little too juvenile for me to fully connect with him. I think this could’ve benefited from a huge cut in pages because a lot of this felt like they were aimlessly waiting for something to happen. And then when something did happen, it was brushed over in an odd way. Tiny spoiler example: One second they were fighting, him wanting to take her somewhere for reasons unknown to her, and… 3 seconds later, ok now you’re living with the enemy, I guess you’ve just accepted it? I promise we didn’t need 150 pages of build up to this point for you to just gloss over the details of this transition. My other issue is the lack of emotions and how flat the main character was. Almost the tone of reading a textbook, which is why I couldn’t connect with this the way I wanted to. Overall, I don’t think this was bad. I can see others loving this and I definitely didn’t hate it, I’m more apathetic to it if anything.

I’m calling it, the next great romantasy duology has arrived! I really enjoyed the world-building and concept of “godtouched” (magical) vs “godforsaken” (non-magical) people. It sets up a really intriguing quasi-class system that is then threaded into religion and politics, which was super interesting. There is also an amazing range of queer rep and found family that was done extremely well and I very much appreciated!

Revna is that great underdog-yet-powerhouse of a FMC that I absolutely love in this genre (or any genre, let’s be real). I also ended up really intrigued by Hellbringer, even though initially I just could not get past the name. He’s mysterious and, of course, beautifully morally gray, with layers of depth that had me fully invested.

What had me stuck a few times was the pacing. This book starts out at a sprint (literally), and I was completely hooked. However, I felt it kind of dragged during the middle portions centered on Revna’s training. THEN, the last quarter of the book is so action-packed and twisty that it has me beyond excited for the next book. Pacing aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and it hasn’t left my mind since I finished it.

Now, to wait…

Big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the gifted eARC!

Blood Beneath the Snow hooked me from the start. We have a rebellion, a princess who is an outcast in her own home, an enemy at the door/ who is morally grey in the best way, and a unique magic system that had me itching to find out more. I loved Revna from the start. What she has endured and what she is willing to do to help her friends and those she considers family makes her a great heroine. She is strong, loyal, and determined even in the face of deadly odds.

The middle, where we get sort of a training montage and where she meets her mortal enemy ( who is, of course, as intriguing as is morally grey) did slow down a bit for me. It was interesting but not as compelling as the beginning had been.

Oooh, then we come towards the end... Where the pace and the action pick up and lead to an epic ending that has me so excited to see what happens next!!

Rebellious princess, Revna, has not been blessed by the gods like the rest of her family. She is "godforsaken" and hated by her parents and two of her brothers. Having found family like bonds amongst a few other godsforsaken, she works to plan a rebellion in hopes to bring peace and justice to her kingdom. After refusing her arranged marriage, she vows to compete against her four brothers to the death in the Bloodshed Trials. Her plans are dashed though when she's kidnapped by the vicious enemy general, Hellbringer, who she discovers may have more of a heart than he lets on. If Revna can't claim the throne, those she loves will suffer. Who can she trust? And does her enemy want her on the throne?

This checks all the romantasy boxes! True enemies, morally grey MC, a unique system of magic, and a shocking ending! This is book one of a duology, and I can't wait to see how it ends! Revna was driven by love for her friends and those she considered her people - the godsforsaken. She carried the weight of her world on her shoulders and truly desired peace... But at what cost? That's always an interesting aspect to me! Are all godsblessed (the magical ones) inherently bad? And the godsforsaken all good? The Hellbringer was the perfect enemy - dangerous, deadly, and with a backstory and motivies of his own. The last quarter of the book is intense and full of surprises!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**Chilling and Gripping**

*Blood Beneath the Snow* by Alexandra Kennington is a haunting and atmospheric fantasy that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The novel masterfully blends suspense, psychological depth, and eerie winter imagery to create a truly immersive reading experience. Kennington’s writing is sharp and evocative, and the characters are complex, with secrets that unravel in compelling ways. While some plot twists feel slightly predictable, the overall tension and mood make up for it. A great pick for fans of slow-burning, character-driven fantasy with a chilling edge!

𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰 is book one in Blood and Souls duology by Alexandra Kennington. This debut romantasy is full of twists and turns and a rebellious Princess.

𝑺𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒆𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆.

👑 Arranged Marriage
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
👑 Deadly Trials
⚔️ He Trains Her
👑 Forced Proximity
⚔️ Political Intrigue
👑 Holy Wars

Our FMC Revna was born without magic and therefore is seen as less than. Her father, the King only sees her as a pawn, a political bargaining chip in the form of an arranged marriage. However that alliance is in peril after Revna demands to compete in the Bloodshed Trials, a deadly trial between heirs for the crown. Things become even more complicated when Revna is kidnapped by their enemy, Hellbringer.

Revna is definitely fierce. Even though she has no magic she is still willing to fight for what is right. She's not afraid to challenge authority.

Hellbringer (yes he does have an actual name as well) is mysterious especially with his wolf mask as no one truly knows.what he looks like. Even though he is 100% a grump I also found him rather enduring.

There is a lot to unpack in the last 15% but makes me super excited to see how Hellbringer and Revna's story plays out.

I loved Revna! This is such a great opener to this duology and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book. There were lots of great twists and turns throughout the story and I fell in love with this cat of characters!

The once in a generation competition for the throne is weeks away, a fight to the death between godtouched siblings for the throne.

Revna, however, is godforsaken, she has no powers or abilities unlike her siblings and so would be unable to compete. She wants to remove the oppression the godforsaken suffer from in her kingdom and so when her fiancé comes from a neighboring kingdom and he suggests she enter the Trials, she decides she will.

However, there’s a catch, and her father takes her to the Warfront to prove she can enter the trials, which is where the one they call Hellbringer kidnaps her and now she has to figure out how to escape, or does she?

This book started out so well. It hooked me from the start and I was looking forward to the trials. The world sounded interesting and I love elemental magic. I was really looking forward to the story. However, it fell a bit flat for me.

The way the book is written is for the most part well written. I mean it hooked me from the start and I wanted to learn more. The first about 20-25% really hooked me. The pacing was off for me though, and there was not enough world building for me to understand the world and why there was a war going on.

To be honest, I don’t understand why half the things happened that happened. Or it’s more like I understood why, but I don’t know why it was written the way it was in the book. Which is why I think the pacing was off because it didn’t really make a lot of sense for the story. I mean, it was engaging and I didn’t want to put it down because I did want to know what would happen next, I just think the way it was written could’ve been done differently that would make a bit more sense.

The romance also was insta-love. I wasn’t into it at all. There was just no connection even though they were together a long time, it was more like I was told they’re in love and not shown.

Revna, I sort of liked, until she was kidnapped and then her spoiled princess self came out even though I guess she’s not spoiled, but she sure acted like it! I really didn’t like her by the end of the book, which I don’t think that’s ever happened to me before to go from sort of liking the MC, to essentially despising them. Her decisions were questionable. I mean it is a morally grey world, so there is that, but if you want your friends to stay your friends, probably should think about that before you decide what you’re going to do. I will say I loved her relationship with her two brothers Jac and Frode. It was really sweet and that’s when I really liked her. I was glad she had some people who loved her in her family.

Hellbringer I have nothing to really say except he’s a broody sad boy. We learn why, and so he at least had a redeeming reason. Revna did not.

There were a few side characters I really liked. I really liked Volkan. He was a surprising character that I ended up really liking.

I wish there were more showing and less telling in this book. More world building would be wonderful too. I think this could have been an amazing book if it focused more on the trials(which slight spoiler, should not be plural because it’s literally one event), so a big buildup to something rather anticlimactic. I also felt like this could have been one book, but I guess it’s a series?

I know many would enjoy this book, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.

3.5 stars rounded up and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC.

A decently solid beginning to a romantasy duology; we love to see a bloodthirsty queen.

I could have done without the whole book referring to the MMC as "the hellbringer," even during sexy time. That was a bit much.

I'm excited for the sequel!

📖 Book Review 📖 Full disclosure: romantasy is not my genre but if reading had taught me anything it is to keep an open mind! Alexandra Kennington did not disappoint me and I was immediately transported to a winter wonderland that I imagined to be a perfect blend of two of my favorite places: Iceland and Norway. A once in a generation chance for siblings to compete for the throne brings blood to the kingdom. For the daughter amongst the sons, Revna, the thirst goes beyond power…she desires justice. Narrated in first person, the reader is fully immersed in the intense struggles, terrifying encounters, and heartfelt relationships Revna experiences from start to finish. Blood Beneath the Snow is a beautifully atmospheric read that definitely pushed the needle on my conversion to romantasy!

4.5 ⭐️

Synopsis: Revna is a rebellious princess who turns down her arranged marriage and instead will compete in a fight for the crown - to the death - against her four brothers. Her plans are thwarted when she is captured by Hellbringer, her country’s greatest enemy.

Thoughts: Blood Beneath the Snow is an epic start to this new romantasy duology! While there are a lot of “standard” fantasy/romantasy elements included here, I think the author executes them in a really unique way. The characters especially feel fresh and interesting - if you love fantastic side characters in fantasy books, this one is definitely for you. I don’t want to say too much because I went into it blind, and I’m so glad I did. The twists really got me! My only complaint is there is a training portion of the plot that could have been condensed a bit for the sake of pacing. Otherwise, I had a lot of fun with this one and the cliffhanger has me anxiously awaiting book two.

Read this if you like:
👑 political intrigue
👑 magic
👑 trials
👑 enemies to lovers
👑 forced proximity
👑 masked villain