*Audiobook ARC review*

My thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for allowing me the pleasure of devouring this audiobook!

Told by two different POVs from two different upbringings, in two different kingdoms but with one similar goal— to fight back.

In a world where the high fae is treated far more superior than the lesser fae, who hope just to stay alive to see another day.

Ara, a high fae, who grew up with skills to kill. Had her life turned upside down and is now questioning everything she knows, she is on a quest to find out the truth. As dangerous as her surroundings are, it does not silence her wit, foul mouth or her determination to kill anyone she deems an enemy to survive.

Temir, a lesser fae, who first never knew what a hug was until his mentor took him in and raised him and discovered his ability to heal and so is kept by the kings side and thankfully wasn’t treated as a lesser fae no more but hates himself still as he is not able to help others as he wants. Temir is in love and is trying desperately to convince her to run away together but it seems like the king has other plans.

Both are facing dangers in every corner within the very court they reside in. They both find themselves part of rebellion.

Political intrigue, corruption, some spice, murder, herbology. It had it all. I really enjoyed the story. I was confused a little as first as I thought they were in the same kingdom but I caught on eventually. 😅

The narrators did a fantastic job and really brought the story and characters to life. I was sat the entire time wanting to know what was going to happen next!

I liked the story, but the male narrator was just not good.

His character voices were simply too unrealistic for the story.

Fae Perfection!!

Beautiful world creation and fabulous characters! I look forward to the rest of the story and future books from this author!

The chemistry between the main POVs and their respective casts is magnetic and the performance of the narrators is impeccable! I cannot wait for the rest of the series to come out on audio as well 🤩 Annalee and Nick have outdone themselves in terms of acting prowess with these characters. Ara and Temir have my attention and I’m eager to read more of their story!

3.5⭐️
I think the premise of this book is very good, and I can’t even say anything is wrong with the writing. However, I didn’t get pulled in the way I usually am and had to rewind back a lot because my attention would drift. I was worried about half way through that I wouldn’t want to continue the series at all but I will say the last 25% or so got me intrigued enough to want to know what happens next. I think the two storylines are interesting and I want to see if/how they converge. I also have questions about the fire prince of course…and maybe a hint of a theory.
The narration by Annalee Scott is really well done. I think she expresses emotions well and makes distinct voices for all the characters. All in all, it’s a good book and interesting start to the series.

This book includes:
- a lifelong conspiracy
- a harsh prince
- pixies and fae and gruesome mythical creatures
- multiple POVs
- a powerful healer
- a cruel king

Blood and Promise takes readers into the cruel and whimsical world of the Fae. I found that this book was a typically plug and chug romantasy. More than anything, the book just felt like an amalgamation of every popular booktok romantasy. While I was listening to the audio, I felt like I was getting constant deja vu. The only story element that stood out to me as interesting was the character Temir, who was a powerful lower fae, however the pace was too slow and his role wasn't big enough to keep me interested in the book. The storyline had promise, but I was unfortunately let down.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Miranda Lyn, and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted across my socials under the username @tinynightingales, check out my GoodReads profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863
my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/
and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

“I would still choose you. I would follow you to the depths of Hell!”

#BloodandPromise by #MirandaLyn is a 4.0 ⭐️ read.

This is book One of the Fae Rising series.

In the lands of fae, you are either the hunter or the hunted! Which side do you want to be on?

Ara, is a high fae in the Marsh Court, who was trained since birth to kill. When it comes down to it, can she sever the tendrils of her morality and do it? After being taken prisoner, she manages an escape riddled with questions, only to arrive home to absolute heartbreak.

Temir, a lesser fae in the vicious Wind Court, hates no one more than himself. Gifted with the magic of healing and therefore protected from the prejudices befallen the rest of the lesser fae.

One High Fae, One Lesser Fae, with One Goal to find a way to fight back!

This book started a little slow, however trust me when I say keep with it! The world built smoothly, making it easy for the listener / reader follow the twist and the lore. The story itself had its hook in me once I began to understand the lore.

Please read warning triggers.

Spice Level - 🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC of the audiobook.

Between Miranda's beautiful writing and the narrators, Annalee Scott and Nick Mondelli, I was ABSOLUTELY HOOKED! Miranda starts off with a bang, no easing you in, but full blown action from the get go.

This is a dual PoV story, told from Ara and Temir (sp?- audiobook lol) It was odd because the two story lines don't interact throughout the whole story, which only drew me in further wanting to know how they mesh together. Fingers crossed I find out in book 2!

Ara is a B.A. female whose world has been turned upside down. Her parent's taught her to fight young and filled her head with all the tall tales and mythology- but why?!? When half a prophecy is disclosed Ara must decide if she will live up to expectations and save the world, or if she will slip into the shadows.

Tamir is a lesser fae granted the "privileges" of a high fae by the King, but only because he is rare and useful- he has a talent to heal. Tamir faces heartbreak over and over, will he hide in his "safe" world, or will he risk everything to join the rebellion and stick up for the lesser fae?

I loved every second of this story. It has a SJM and Holly Black feel to it, and the only drawback is that I don't have book 2 in my hands right this second!

A Mixed Bag

This book falls squarely in the middle of the pack for me – it wasn't bad, but it didn't blow me away either. The story primarily focuses on Ara and Temir, two characters with distinct storylines.

Ara's character development was more pronounced, making it easier to connect with her. Temir's story, while compelling, didn't resonate with me. Their paths will cross in the future, but romance doesn't seem to be on the horizon in this book.

The world-building, which explores the divide between Higher and Lower fae, is intriguing but needed more exploration. Some parts felt overly descriptive which slowed the pacing.

The lack of romance was a drawback for me, but I'm hopeful it will pick up in the next installment.

Overall, Blood and Promise is a decent start to a series. While it didn't captivate me, I'm willing to give the next book a chance to see if it builds upon the foundation established here.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook ARC

I really really loved this. Duel story lines that I hope are going g to come together seamlessly in the 2nd book.

I was a little apprehensive about the duel story lines running simultaneously but omg nope I loved it.

Strong kick ass fmc that I know is just going to get so much better in The 2nd book.

If your love Sarah j Maas type reading you will love this and the series has so much potential!

Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

I need the rest of the series now, please! I could NOT put this audiobook down! When the blurb says for fans of SJM, they were not wrong.

If you like a lethal FMC that has a heart of gold, Ara is your girl. She’s funny, she’s cunning, she’s trained to kill. She is high fae and everything she has known in life is ripped away from her and she finds herself on her own…looking for the truth.

Temir, the MMC, is a lesser fae, but unlike most lesser fae, he has magic. He is a healer, which makes him a valuable asset to the Northern King. He soon makes a discovery that can change everything…..but it isn’t without consequences.

I have no idea where these books are going to take me, but I am ready for the journey!

The narrators did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. I laughed and I cried. I am fully invested in this series. It is easily one of the best books I have read in a very long time. Miranda Lyn is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Now, give me book 2!!

A fast paced, intriguing story full of adventure and mystery; I listened to this in one session, I just couldn’t get enough. This fae filled fantasy has two of the things I love most in books: chosen ones and a dual point of view/narrators.

Ara is fierce, tough, sarcastic, with a little bit of snark and surprisingly fun for a FMC who has been trained to remorselessly kill. She’s on a mission to find the answers to her upended life. Temir’s story is equally enthralling, but his is mostly a tale of survival in a world that only seems to care about his talents.

I just finished listening to the audiobook (coming out January 21st), and it was phenomenal. A special thank you to @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for providing me with a copy of this wonderful audiobook.

The narrators did an amazing job! They had just enough emotion and tempo to keep you entertained and enthralled.

Also, for those who dislike cliffhangers, this book came out in 2021 and is a completed 4 book series!

♥️ does contain dark and heavy topics, please check the trigger warnings.

While this story started out fairly slow, once it picked up it was quite the ride. I can't say I was a huge fan of the narration, but it was okay. The cliffhanger has me itching for book two!

4.5 🌟 What a ride!!!! Fast paced from the first sentence and stays that way throughout the book. The world building and magic system were crazy!

This book has been out for awhile, but is being released as an audiobook and I was lucky enough to snag an ALC. The narrators were so good! I love when we have dual narration for dual POVs.

The story follows Ara and Tamir, a high and lesser fae navigating the marsh and wind courts and all the politics that come with it. Fierce FMC that’s been trained to kill, angsty healer MMC that’s so freaking smart and has a huge heart, and so much immersion that I felt like I was right there beside them.

Prophecies, secrets, romance, action filled adventure and a cliffhanger that left me screaming at the end. Can’t wait to listen to book 2 of this completed series.

Thanks to NetGalley, Miranda, and Dreamscape Media for this ALC

This started a little slow, and I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this. As i started the book, I thought it may be a bit underdeveloped for my taste or perhaps a bit simple - but boy, was I WRONG! I just judged it waaaay too quickly because as the storyline progressed, I was pulled into a very detailed and complex world of high & lower fae. I particularly like when books add descriptions of the lore and magic history to help the reader get a better sense of things and a deeper understanding into the plot and why the characters are doing whatever they're doing. The character development continued on as i read each chapter, and I found myself not only interested in the main characters but truly intrigued in the wide cast of side characters too! I wanted to find out how all of their stories would develop and how they connected with each other.

The two main characters had such contrasting personalities, the MMC has had a very tough start to his life and the FMC has pretty much been in danger her whole life and I really felt the emotion, trauma and connections coming through these characters as well as side characters.

I enjoyed the author's writing style so much, and the character development for even the side characters introduced in this book was done really well. Each person was introduced steadily, and we were given enough info to help us connect with them instantly and be able to form bonds with them - whether it be love or hate!

The alternating pov gave the story more intrigue, deeper levels of world building, and just so much more depth to the plot itself.

I 'read' the audiobook and the change in the narrator was good for keeping you alert in interested and gave the story more perspective and a strong feeling of moving forward laced with higher levels of drama and risk. I thought the narators did a good job, particularly the female narrator. Her change in voices, tone, emotion, and pitch really came through with each character! The male narrator was a little flatter. It sounded as if he was bored reading this, even the fight scenes were just lacking any real umph or emotion... but he did manage to create separate voices for the characters that were easily recognisable and separate from each other- I'm not particularly a fan of his feminine voices though.

It does end on a cliff hanger but it's nothing major, when it ended I was just surprised as it felt like the narator stopped part way through a page. There was no round up or ending or even conclusion or predictions made so the end just came out of nowhere for me. I look forward to reading the next books now!

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC, I leave this review of my own choice and it is entirely my honest and full opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc. I love POV especially when done with multiple narrators, and they did a wonderful job bringing the story to life.

Ara a trained fighter was abducted and afterwards losing her parents she sets fire to her home and sets off alone into the world to find the truth

Temir a healer tries a new formula to help heal only to discover that he created a truth serum and the king is highly interested in.

I'll never get bored in a world of farie! Loves this whole story and really hope we can keep this level going through the rest of the series

I love the narrators and I love the story. However, There was one thing that really threw me off and I think I need to talk about it. The characters in the story refer to all men and women as "males" and "females" and I get that these are not humans so it is supposed to be a thing but it had me cringing every few minutes. Because it is dehumanizing and it just feels weird. We have terms for animals based on whether they are male or female, even. So it seems off that the fae would refer to everyone as male and female. "As I held on to the only male I ever loved."
And "The male took as gasping breath" and "the female approached me."
It is like we are reading some police reports.
However, despite this I loved the story. I really did. I just needed to say some of the lines out loud and groan. In that way my entire family also got to enjoy it.