3.5 ⭐ - Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

👑 fated mates (romance subplot!)
👑 faeries and royals
👑 prophecies and curses

This was super fun! Aurelia is a mortal who feels her life is stagnant and lonely in the mortal world, certain she is destined for more. Her nights are filled with dreams of a boy she loves despite never seeing his true face. Meanwhile, Andar is betrothed to the future High Queen of Áithrim, Lark, but neither of them is satisfied with their arrangement.

The prose was BEAUTIFUL. It was magical, mystical, mysterious, literally all the best "M" words. This was genuinely a joy to read. Though the book is 500+ pages long, and the plot only spans around 2 days, I was pleasantly surprised by the pacing and worldbuilding of this novel. It was engaging and an easy read for its size, and the writing flowed well.

However, because the book only spans 2 days, with over 60% taking place in one night, I wanted more character development. We start the book with a lot of exposition about the characters and past events in their lives, but we don't get to the action until about 20% in. The book is also heavy with insta love—which I preferred for 1 couple over the other—but had great angst, MUTUAL PINING, and platonic bonding. I loved the characters individually too! I just felt the relationship developments (romantic and platonic) would have been so much better if they were stretched out over more than 2 days. I also wish the beginning focused more on the leads and the political plot (which was one of my favourite parts of the book!)

This has 6 POVs, which might be confusing to some, but I actually found the switching perspectives to be fascinating and imo worked well with the flow of the story and the plot (I also read ZA so I am a POV warrior 😭)

I loved the chapter titles. BRING BACK CHAPTER TITLES PLEASE 👏👏👏👏

Blood Iron & Bone was my first book by Sera Foxe (btw didn't know that was a pseudonym for two authors!), but I'll be reading the next 2 books! If you're looking for a book with The Folk of the Air vibes, definitely check this out!!

This book had so much potential! The plot and the overall story is really captivating. The first half of the book was a struggle for me to get through. It was very repetitive and had a lot of details that were meant to build your relationship with the characters but could have definitely been left out. If this book had a better flow I feel like it could be amazing! Unfortunately the way it is written currently makes me unlikely to pick up the second book.

First I want to thank Netgalley and Sera Foxe for providing me with the ARC of this book.
Before starting this book, it came to my knowledge that the book would have multiple POV´s, written in third person. I´ve read several fantasy books with different POV´s, so for me this wasn´t an issue.
However, if that´s something you find hard, maybe skip this book.
When opening the book one of the first pages I encountered was a pronunciation guide, which I like a lot, because a lot of the names in this book are of Irish origin. Also, at the end of the book you can find a glossary. So you know this is a serious fantasy book!
So as previously mentioned, in this book you follow several different characters who are from both the mortal word as the ´Otherworld´. The book describes the worlds very extensive and also all the creatures living inside, the world building is excellent to me. I could really visualize every little detail described in the book, I think this would also make a great audiobook.
Every character is described very detailed as well, and I adore every single main character. They all have their own purposes, goals and motivations that fit their characters. I also liked a lot of the side characters in the book too.
So the whole story takes place in about 2 to 3 days. I do feel that in the first half of the book, the pacing could’ve picked up a bit better and could´ve been a bit shorter if it were more straight to the point. But I do understand the author for trying to describe everything as good as possible. There´s also some foreshadowing which came together later in the book. The second half of the book had great pacing, at that point I was sucked into the story. It even got to the point where I was a little disappointed that the chapter ended and the story continued in another POV. Fortunately, that disappointment didn´t last long. A detail I really liked is that the book is divided into different part, and with each new part is a piece of text from one of the side characters.
I think the plot is written good, some plot twists I could see from miles away, some took me by surprise. I love how all these characters are trying to find out who they really are and how they cope with everything that comes in their way and how they´re trying to figure out what path they want to continue in. Besides fantasy, there´s also romance in the book. In this book there is yearning, prophecy, found family and fated mates. So for everyone who loves a good romantasy with fated mates, this one´s for you!
Also, the book does have some spice in it, but it’s a very slow burn. I think the yearning builds up the tension really well, which made the spice very pleasing to read!
I really enjoyed reading this book and I´m super excited for the sequel, hopefully I can read that one as an ARC as well.

My rating: 4 stars

This book contains:
Prophecy
Found Family
Fated Mates
Yearning
Slow burn

Favourite quotes:
“No one was going to save her. She had to save herself”
“To meet in her sleep wasn’t walking a new path – it was going home”
“Home is in our blood. When you are where you do not belong, you feel it. You feel it in your bones. The body knows what the mind cannot.”

I love a Fae book so was very happy to receive this. I just think for me it didn’t feel emotional or perhaps immediate enough. I quite enjoyed the different points of view but just sadly didn’t care enough about the various characters. Maybe I’m burned out on Fae stories .? A juxtaposition of characters and where they belong is a fun idea and I liked the idea of parallel worlds but if brutal read this very quickly as I just wanted to know how it ended.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts are honest and I believe fair

I don't think I would read this book again. Very backwards and forwards. Lots of characters as main characters. Would not recommend

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Blood Iron and Bone had a bit of a slow start for me, but once the main characters were united it was harder for me to put down. I love books with the trope of a girl meant for more, and I loved the way that Aurelia, Lark, and Nova’s stories are all tied together.

Initially it was somewhat difficult to keep track of all of the characters, since there are so many POVs in this book. I did very much so appreciate that it was in 3rd person though, which helped! I also felt that in the middle of the book specifically, passage of time was structured in an interesting way. For example, after Cillian and Nova part ways after they first meet, we hear briefly that Cillian gets trapped by Aife in the revel. The next chapter has him running back into Nova and now Aurelia, then the chapter after is back to Cillian in the revel.

Overall though, I am intrigued by the plot and where the characters have to go from here. It seems like each book from here in the series will focus on a different duo, which I think will be an exciting way to see the overall story unfold, and I feel like we’ll get more aspects to this world in each book. I’ll definitely be looking for the sequel when it releases!

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in March. I'm sorry but I just couldn't get past the writing. I couldn't get into it at all. You might like it if you like Fae stories but it was not for me.

Thank you for the Arc :)

This did take me a little while to get into but as soon as I reached about 30% I was hooked. I struggled a bit at first with the multiple povs, but ended up enjoying this and the writing style was incredible. I enjoyed all the characters and loved that there are fated mates and fae. I really liked that there are flash backs and world building in this is spot on.

I would definitely read the next book and I'm very grateful I was accepted for this arc.

Thank you to Sera Foxe and Netgalley for the Arc!

There are fated mates, a prophecy, twins, and fae!

So this took me a bit to get into. It wasn't the multiple povs.I had no problem following along. It was the writing, I just think there is room for a little improvement. Some of the dialogue was repetitive, but I did enjoy the characters, and I'm looking forward to the next book!

Aurelia & Andar ❤️

A Promising World Undermined by Repetition and Flat Characters

Blood Iron & Bone, the first book in The Lightbringers series, promises an epic tale of prophecy, duty, and the clash between mortal and eternal realms. While the blurb promised a thrilling fantasy story with high stakes, my reading experience left me with mixed feelings. There are a few standout moments, particularly in the world-building, but unfortunately the execution is lacking in several critical areas for me.

Blood Iron & Bone ♦ Sera Foxe — A Review

Opinion
The novel’s multiple points of view (POVs) lured me into the realm of Áithrim and its rich prophesies. As someone who cherishes the authorial narrative perspective, I hoped that the shifting POVs would provide profound insight into the characters’ feelings, desires, and origins. Unfortunately, this technique frequently failed. Instead of improving the plot, it added unnecessary details about events and exchanges. For example, significant events were recreated from multiple perspectives without adding meaningful new layers. This repetition slowed the pacing tremendously, making various sections of the book feel dragged out. Tightening these sections would have improved the flow and reduced the overall page count while preserving content.

By the time I got 35% through the book, my interest had waned, and I was skimming more frequently than necessary. The characters had an important role in this. Despite the book’s large array of characters, I found it difficult to identify with or care about the majority of them. Even though the book’s diverse cast, I struggled to connect with or care about many of the characters. I normally root for one or two characters, but the large number, I think it was six, of exposed personalities made it difficult to really delve into anyone’s path. The lack of engaging, in-depth character development reduced the plot’s emotional stakes. I wanted to care about Aurelia‘s strange link to the prophecy and Andar‘s struggle with his fated mate, but their personalities were sometimes too weak or clichéd.

Nonetheless, the world-building merits respect. The story of Áithrim, the cursed skies, and the prophecy is well-written and compelling. The world felt alive, with magical systems, political intrigue, and history intertwined throughout the novel. I liked how the authors (behind the penname Sera Foxe) placed the fantasy aspects in a unified mythos, which deepened the story’s bigger themes of fate and sacrifice. However, even this solid base was undermined by a lack of engaging personalities to inhabit it. Without a lively cast to explore a new world, the majesty of the environment was diminished.

The plot showed promise, but it wandered at times, with too many subplots contesting for attention. The basic conflict, which involved the fulfillment of the prophecy and the oncoming darkness, had the potential to be a thrilling adventure, but it was muddied by superfluous tangents and explanation.

Conclusion
In conclusion, while Blood Iron & Bone has some brilliant moments, particularly in its innovative and fresh world-building, the repetitive story framework and less fortunate characters kept it from reaching its full potential. For readers who prefer a well-crafted fantasy setting instead of a character-driven storytelling, this may be worth a try. I’m still undecided on whether to continue the series. The chances are slim and depend on whether future volumes in the series can address these faults and breathe new life into the characters and plot.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Tropes:
💞 Fated mates
🧚‍♀️ Fae
🗣️ Multiple POVs (6)
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Found family
💘 Romantasy

This is one of the most interesting story I have ever read in my entire life. I just read a multiple POVs story with 6 different perspectives and the plot is happening within just a few days but the concept is that their perspectives are all intertwined towards the end. Although it makes me confused and need to focus on every sentence to understand whose POV I’m reading, the world building in this fantasy is greatly well done and I really enjoy the fated mates vibes everywhere in this book. It picks up really fast from 50% onwards and the plot twist at the end, oh my goodness it was insane. I can’t wait to read the second book of this series because I really need to know what happens next!

P.S. Thank you to NetGalley, Sera Foxe and Agency Press for giving me this eARC!

The Lightbringers, Book One. I received an ARC copy for review.

"DESTINED FOR GREATNESS"

First thing that caught my eye was the beautiful cover, then the fact that this was compared to Sarah J. Maas books. This starts off a bit slow for me, however this was an ARC copy unedited. The main characters are Aurelia (the fearless) and Lark (the Princess). Aurelia always felt like she didn’t belong, her parents didn’t seem to love her honestly. Didn’t have a lot of friends either. Her best friend is Pan, her cat. I figured out quickly what was going on with Aurelia and Lark. Lark is like a prisoner in her own home for years. She can’t go anywhere and doesn't have any friends. The story line is well written, and some of the characters have unique abilities which I personally love when reading a book like this. We also get to meet Andar and many more unique characters. Lark wants to be free, she wants to find where she belongs and how she fits in this world. Will the Prophecy that they all have been waiting for save them from the dark, will they finally see the sunlight? Who will be the true bringer of light?

I would highly recommend this read for anyone who loves to read about Fae. I am looking forward to book two, I need to know about Pan.
Go get lost in this book tonight!

NOTE: Thank you NetGalley and Author Sera Fox for trusting me with an ARC for review

Thank you Netgalley, Sera Foxe, and Agency Press for the arc copy of Blood, Iron and Bone.

Sera Foxe's new book is very entertaining. It will be a rapid release of the series so I'm thrilled about that and we will continue on the adventure soon. This first installment begins the journey in March and pre-orders are available. They're offering tons of cool stuff for pre-ordering so that's why I'm bringing it up. I'd recommend checking out their insta for more information. Goodies always make a book more fun.

There is a lot of world building and it has six POVs we follow through the adventure centered on fae and magic. It has an intriguing premise and I think it was mostly pulled off except I found the writing a bit of a struggle in some places to read through. Although, I found the rhythm of the writing very interesting. It reminded me of Dr Seuss movie narration. It has a sing song feel in the beats. The entire story is written about a few days. It's entertaining and fun, that's for sure. I'm definitely looking forward to book 2.

I also struggled with reading the italics. The book uses a lot of italics and I personally just have a hard time with them. So that's on me. Not the authors. I think in general the depiction of fae and the interesting aspects of the world had a lot of entertainment value. The struggle mainly within the pacing and the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley, Agency Press, and Sera Foxe for the arc.

This book certainly nails the world building, which is not something I expect from most romantic fantasy novels. It was rich in traditional fae folklore, including the concept of the Celtic Otherworld.

While the world bulding was strong, it meant that the narrative was often pedantic and that the beginning of the story dragged on. In addition, six perspectives was a very ambitious feat that unfortunately fell flat. Overall a strong debut, especially from indie authors and an indie press!

I really enjoyed this book! Overall I found the different perspectives very interesting however I did need a lot of brain power to work out which character was talking. The action was perfectly paced and left a fantastic but not overwhelming cliff hanger. I am very excited to continue this series!

this book was honestly so fun to read! the characters felt like i actually knew them and so i managed to root for them throughout the story. the plot was unique and kept me wanting to pick the book up as well! honestly so glad i came across this book, it was everything i hoped it was gonna be. it wasn’t my favourite book i’ve read, but it’s definitely worth reading and i’ll be recommending this!

I read in a review that this is the author's first book and even that there are 2 authors? I would advise they keep on practicing.
The storyline has potential but it is poorly written.
There are a lot of sidestories not adding to the main story and unnecessary repetition. It feels forced and contrived.
6 POV is a lot to follow and makes the world building very slow. I had to drag myself through it.
I was about to DNF after 30% in but after reading some reviews I pushed through. It gets a bit better after 50% but only at 70% it finally gets more pace. However the plot is predictable.
I will not be reading the second book.

I have just started to fall in love with this genre and I am always on the lookout for new material. This is all that and then some. The character has been outcast but she hasn't given up hope. The fantasy is out of this world and the longed for romance is dreamy. I am so happy that this is only the first book which means there is more to come! How exciting!

Fae + Humans
Multi POV (6)
Curses & Prophecies
Magic
Fated Mates
Unique World Building
Little Bit of Spice

Fated Mates. Fae. Animal Companions… I want to know more!

The first book in the Lightbringers series is quite an adventure, and a delightful one at that! Although the multiple points of view took some time to get used to—especially as I prepare to dive into Zodiac Academy—I found the world-building to be thoroughly engaging. I managed to complete the book in nearly three sittings.

I appreciated that this story focused more on developing the world and creating vivid imagery rather than diving straight into action, as many other books tend to do. I believe this gradual buildup will pay off as the narrative unfolds, which is what I am most eager to see in this series.

The magic system is intricately crafted, and I am curious about the direction the story will take in the upcoming installments.

I am excited to continue reading!

Thank you Netgalley and Sera Fox for letting me ARC this read!

Personal Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley, Agency Press, and Sera Foxe for providing a free copy of Blood Iron and Bone in exchange for an honest review.

This book has a good idea and concept but it was not executed as well as it could have been. My rating for this book is a 2 1/2 star. What I liked about the book was the world building, the different types of fae and creatures depicted in the book, and the idea underlying the plot. What I didn't like was the writing in the beginning of the book (it needs to be reworked in my opinion), I didn't like how slow it moved in the beginning and the things the author focused on, I didn't like how instant love each of the relationships were, and the lacking of depth in the characters, their interactions with each other and their intenal dialouge. I think the book might be better if it were rewritten for a younger audience and removing some of the spice. After I got through about 50% the book was more engaging, and I did enjoy the story I just think the writing needs to be reworked.