Thank you Sera Foxe,The Agency Press Collective and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read the eARC of Blood, Iron & Bone.

I loved the premise of the book - there is so much potential for an incredible series. I really wanted to love it as it had a lot of the tropes I normally love and thoroughly enjoy in books. With some fine-tuning, this could really be an incredible book.

~Plot~
I struggled with grasping the plot for the majority of this book - I would say it really only picked up at around the 60% mark. The beginning of the book started off very slow; there was a lot of flashbacks, where I couldn’t easily differentiate between where it started and when it ended. I also felt like a lot of the flashbacks didn’t add much essence to the plot. Maybe if they were formatted to even be written in italics to make it easier to discern from the “now” would be helpful!
The pacing definitely felt disjointed and hard to follow, especially with so many POVs in 3rd person. I usually don’t mind the use of 3rd person, but there was a lot of internal monologues, which took away from that; at one stage it was hard to discern who’s it was when all the characters were in the same space. I understand the author was trying to convey each character’s thoughts and feelings to inform the reader but it got confusing. I think if the books focused on maybe 2-3 POVs would allow the story to shine and heighten the emotional depth.

Also, this whole book takes place in essentially the space of 2 days ?? That was wild to me; I feel like so much of what happened in the plot would’ve needed so much more planning to execute accordingly.

One thing I found very unique, that I don’t think I have read or come across in a book yet, is the idea of the women speaking a prophesy for each child that they give birth to - this is a really intriguing take on the “ fated “ aspect of many books and this really stood out to me.

~Writing~
Unfortunately, I found I struggled the most with the writing. I personally feel like it lacked depth and complexity; it seemed very surface level. I also couldn’t get on with the use of common internet slang or more modern language and phrases, such as references to Harry Potter, quotes from the Wizard of Oz, or the phrase “ Boomer “. I get that Aurelia grew up in quentisentially our world, but it’s a personal pet peeve to read common slang in a book dubbed as fantasy. Even in the Fae realm, soldiers were using “mate” as an informal way to refer to each other, which threw me off.

~World Building~
I found the world building to be the stronger point of this book; you’re provided with a lot of background information and knowledge about the ins and outs of the world in the book. I did like the Celtic/Irish links, but again, some Irish phrases were used that I personally feel like should’ve been explored more, or maybe the importance of the Celtic lore and background.
I do feel like the battle scenes and any action happened very quickly and ended abruptly; if it was explored in more depth it would definitely make a bigger impact. The climax of the story should have been dragged out a bit more in my opinion.

~Characters~
I actually really enjoy the Motley Crew that are all the characters - there’s a lot of variety which adds essence to the story, where each character seems just as important as the others. However, I couldn’t personally connect with any of them at a deep level - a lot of major events/reveals I feel like were completely brushed over and not explored enough to provide an emotional impact/shock factor. It just seemed like the characters had no chance to grieve or try to piece together the revelations that were happening; I would definitely focus on that more if possible.
I actually enjoyed Nova’s character the most - she showed the most resilience and courage and complexity in the circumstances she was put in, and I hope that continues into the series and doesn’t get overshadowed by the role of the other characters.
I couldn’t connect with Lark - she seemed quite selfish and very “woe is me”, even in the circumstances she found herself in, she really only thought about herself.
I do find myself intrigued with Aife, she seemed to know a lot more than she lets on, but again, I couldn’t make a connection with her because she really popped into the plot at random times when it was convenient.

There are formatting, grammar & editing issues throughout the book but considering that it's an ARC, hopefully they'll be caught & corrected.

In conclusion, I don't want to discourage anybody from reading this book, as everyone is different! There are plenty of 4/5 reviews for this book, so it just seems very subjective! You may find the complete opposite to what I found and felt, and it could become your new favourite series!

Overall I really do love the premise of this story and I encourage other readers to give it a shot. I look forward to seeing how Sera grows as an author, as this is a debut, therefore there is always time and room for exceptional growth!

Summary
In this sweeping fantasy romance, a mortal girl, Aurelia, is unexpectedly pulled into a prophecy that binds her fate to a fae prince, Andar, in a world on the brink of ruin. With fated mates, duty, and a quest for identity at its core, this story unfolds against a backdrop of prophecy and war as light and darkness collide.

Review
“Blood, Iron, and Bone” is a spellbinding romantasy that weaves a tale of prophecy, fated mates, and self-discovery, all while staying within the realm of clean romance. The poetic prophecy, which serves as the story’s foundation, sets the stage for an enchanting narrative filled with romantic tension, intricate worldbuilding, and compelling characters.

The story itself felt unique in many ways, although it does tread familiar ground with its human heroine entering the fae world and uncovering hidden truths about herself. The writing style, which seemed to oscillate between third-person and omniscient narration, initially required some adjustment. At first, the multiple points of view felt overwhelming, but once immersed in the story, this became a non-issue, and I found myself deeply invested.

The worldbuilding is beautifully crafted, though the pacing at the start is slow. However, this deliberate approach allows the reader to ease into the world and understand its complexities. Before long, I found myself completely hooked, unable to resist reading “just one more chapter.”

The romantic buildup is exquisite, offering a satisfying emotional depth without any explicit scenes, making it a perfect read for fans of young adult fantasy. The diverse and intriguing cast of characters adds richness to the narrative, though many threads remain unresolved, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC.

I rated this book 4.5 stars because it's super good. I really loved this plot. The story is fantastic and the characters are so good. So so good. Totally recommend!!!

I loved this book! It’s full of mystery, deception, and intertwining fates across worlds. It is a story that is hard to put down as you try to fill in the missing clues. I am looking forward to reading the next book!

This story sets the tone perfectly right from the opening, drawing readers into its gripping atmosphere.

The world-building is exceptional—unique yet entirely cohesive, making even the most unfamiliar settings feel natural. The characters are deeply relatable, with motivations that ground them in reality. While I wish their relationships had been explored more, there’s plenty of room for growth in future installments.

The twists and turns are masterfully executed, giving every character a meaningful role in the unfolding destiny. Although the plot was occasionally hard to follow, when everything clicked into place, it was brilliant. The subtle foreshadowing had me wanting to scream at the characters (in the best way).

This book was an absolute joy to read, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

There is A LOT going on & once you understand the multiple POVs things start falling into place.

We get Fae as they were meant to be: assholes! All tricky, stealing babies and being self-centered.

All the women characters were interestingly complicated and truly moved the story forward. I want to go more in depth but SPOILERS.

The men ;/ dumb jock comes to mind as a general descriptor. But I see their potential.

The Cat: perfect. no notes.

I would say that the 1st 20% tells more than shows but I had no idea where in the world, or time, Aurelia was living. It wasn't until we get to the 80% mark that we find out where & I was WHAT?! Because she reads so American when she finally starts having conversations with other people. I did like her though, she's no shy violet.

There are formatting, grammar & editing issues throughout the book but considering that it's an ARC, hopefully they'll be caught & corrected.

I would totally read book 2

This book was absolutely incredible! It gripped me and pulled me in immediately! The perfect fantasy book for any fantasy lover!
A five star read easily!

Wow, this book was special! One of my faves all year even though I prefer romcoms and light stuff. I am just getting into the genre y of my favourite authors is moving to it so maybe I just need more time.

It took me a moment to settle in because I am used to first person and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to connect, but I don’t want to be a lazy reader, and I did my best. So glad bc the opposite happened and I connected to SO MANY characters equally! I loved the multi-perspective story, especially the found family and I need to know what’s next, especially for Lark!

Corny to say, but reading this book made me feel smarter. So many of the indie books are good but some I tried this year were not. Not to be mean, but they’re always full of clichés. I get the tropes, but I have been feeling like I am just getting the same stories over and over again and it’s annoying. This book was different.

I WAS lazy about starting because I had so many preconceived notions, but I am so glad I challenged myself with this one. It was anything but boring, but yeah, it’s not a mindless read for sure. Pay attention and you will love it! Thank you so much to the author for giving me a chance to read this early! But it was quite spicy and steamy. I think I need to go back to romcoms for a bit next.

It's like a fairy tale with a captivating story and lot's of mystery.
The dream-perspective is very catching and I really like how the different characters opend your eyes to an intriging world building.

Once again we meet a world with Fae, but in a new and brillante way.
It's a fastpaced action-packed fantasy with tension and romance!
- Forbidden love
- Fated mates
- Cursed country
- Twins
- Chosen one
- it's allways been you...

Post on IG 9.jan 2025 @one_fairy_tale_at_the_time

Thank you so much Agency Press and Netgalley for giving me this ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This book has a cool magic system with faeries, mysteries and an intriguing plot. It's written in third person with a fairytale narrator type of vibe, and i actually really enjoyed this as i felt like someone was telling me a fairytale. We also follow a lot of characters in this story from the very beginning, which is kind of unique as in alot of books we only follow a couple of characters perspectives. Many of the characters were also really funny and lovable.

I did however find it a bit confusing to follow so many characters from the start as i felt like i sometimes lost track of the plot and the pacing. There is also alot of world building going on in the beginning, so it took some time for me to personally get into the story. I also felt like when things paced up, it happened very quickly, so i wish the climax had been dragged out a bit more.

The plot however is really good and the book leaves you with alot of questions for what will happen next. It has romance, prophecies, faeries and lots of mysteries - and an ending that will make you want to know more! I would definitely recommend this to romantasy readers who love faeries, prophecies and fated mates.

This! This right here held me and had me gripped from the start!

Our FMC feels out of place, an outcast from the world that she is currently in. And out of the blue, from what she thought was a dream, she is pulled into a new realm where she meets someone who looks exactly like her. There are secrets, magic, and such a strong plot with a bit of romance. I'm so invested within this story, I am so ready to see where it goes.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you, Sera Foxe and The Agency Press Collective, for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of Blood, Iron & Bone!

I absolutely loved the premise and intricate world-building in this book—there’s so much potential for an incredible series here. The story had me hooked with its blend of romance and fantasy elements, and the chemistry between the characters was compelling.

That said, I did feel that the pacing occasionally dragged, and the multiple points of view sometimes made the plot feel a bit disjointed and harder to follow. I think focusing on just two perspectives—Aurelia and Ander—would allow the story to shine even brighter and heighten the emotional depth. With some fine-tuning, this could easily become one of my favorite Romantasy reads of the year.

I’m excited to see how this story evolves and look forward to more from Sera Foxe in the future!

I thoroughly enjoyed the prologue; it immediately captivated me. While the beginning was excellent, I felt the story lost momentum. The characters lacked depth, diminishing my engagement, and I ultimately stopped reading. However, the underlying concept is original and intriguing and possesses significant potential.

I appreciate the opportunity for this but unfortunately I will not be finishing it. I struggled with the pacing and didn't feel like the world/characters had a lot of depth.

Good start to the series. I enjoyed the FMC Aurelia, she was an absolute delight. I would’ve liked more world building and details. The conflict scenes felt very short and didn’t add much to the story. Interactions between characters was engaging. I felt like the book was rushed and there was no real buildup. Hopeful for a continuation of the series though

Aurelia has always been lonely in her home, with emotionally distant parents and no friends. She's only had the boy from her dreams to keep her company. But one day, she goes looking to find him...and passes into another world.

I loved the plot device of having an omniscient narrator in the book - who clearly sees danger and intrigue ahead. It made the book interesting from the very beginning. The character of Maw (or, as I think she should be called as an Irish mammy, Ma) is fascinating and unusual. I really enjoyed that the book allowed for romance of minor characters (I want so much more Alasdair and Aife), as well as the Irish-related setting.

I'm excited for the next book in the series and hope it will give some more time and development to so many of the fascinating women in the book: Aife, Maw, and Ciorraithe.

As the first two star review for this book I feel terrible but I just can not give this any higher rating than that.

This was such a slow book, I really thought at some point it would pick up and actually start but the entire book felt like a backstory building up for another book. I did not see any action until about 85% of this book and that is just not acceptable for me.
Too many characters were introduced in this book where I could not fall in love with a majority of them because we did not get enough time with each.
I really enjoyed Aurelia and Lark in the beginning but found myself getting annoyed with both of them and their constant "woe is me" attitude after a couple of chapters.
I loved the concept of this book but did not love the execution. I will most definitely not read from this series but I will consider this author again in the future after their is more growth.

“The call that came out of the darkness was at once both a whisper and a scream. Pitched perhaps too high for most humans to hear, it was still loud enough to wake Aurelia Bartlett from her slumber.”

--

Thank you to Netgalley and Sera Foxe for the ARC copy. This was absolutely fantastic.
There is something deeply and darkly prophetic about Blood Iron and Bone that has left me thinking about this book now that I've finished reading it. I'll be honest, I've got a book hangover, which to me is the sign of a very, very good read. The location of Áithrim is so well fleshed out, with creatures and unique magic and Aurelia is an incredible FMC. Sera Foxe... we need to talk about Lark - please... book 2... (brokenheart).

I have a soft spot for fate, prophecies and worldly veils and this book doesn't disappoint in how well it balances light and dark, desire and despair and speaking between minds. The last 30% of the book had me on the edge as the story takes a few turns that I just didn't see coming. I am already so very excited for book 2 and I'm already excited for a re-read!

- Visions & prophecy
- Fae (like you've not seen them)
- Growth in power
- Animal companions
- Rebellion & Royalty
- Telepathic communication
- Unique magic

A thrilling adventure with a well-built world, interesting characters, a fast-moving and surprising plot, and a really cool take on all things Fae. The chapters are so gripping you’ll be turning the pages quickly, eager to find out what happens next. The characters are incredibly captivating, each one bringing something unique to the story. I can't wait for the next book to see where their journeys take them. Thank you to #netgalley and @serafoxe and @agencypressbooks for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

An incredible ride with great world-building, complicated and well-executed characters, a fast-paced and unpredictable plot, and a very creative take on a Faerish parallel universe.