Thank you to Everlast books, James Maxwell, and NetGalley for this e-ARC in return for an honest review.

Blood and Empire promises to be the start of a great new epic fantasy. Maxwell’s writing is creative and well done. This book is written in multi POV’s, all of which were interesting and intriguing. The world building was done phenomenally well. Overall I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. There were times in the middle of the story I felt like the story dragged a bit. I also loved Bethany’s POV and felt like as more POV’s were added her story had a tendency to fall to the side. I am looking forward to book 2’s release eagerly though!

Really enjoyed the magical system and the foundation set out here. I can see the scope for the world starting to take shape, I must admit I'm not a fan of the academia trope so that didn't hold my attention as much as the rest did.
I'm glad to have finished the schooling part of the series so we can move onto the rest of the development

I’m sorry but at this time I DNF this book at around 40%. I’m sure this had more to do with me than the writing but I had a hard time keeping up with the different POVs and all the information. I had to continue to go back and forth to remind myself who was who and what was what. Again , I think this had more to do with my simple working mind. I greatly appreciate the chance to read this. I’m not going to post a review on social media at this time because I don’t think my opinion is relevant.

I was so excited to pick up this book. It has such a unique concept. I adored the FMC chapters, but really disliked the MMC ones. I was originally hooked from page one. But the more I read, the more disappointing the story became. This story had so much potential but it lacks development and depth. There’s too much tell and not enough show in many places, especially the Diviner training. That is brushed over a lot. The overall plot could do with more chapters to add embellishment. However, there was too much spoon feeding in places, with titles and plot points needlessly repeated. The story didn’t really go anywhere, it was mainly a set up. The first 30% was the most exciting. It should be longer and more developed! I was so excited but I won’t be continuing this series.

🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 Blood and Empire
💫💫💫.5

I really wanted to like this book but I struggled so much with the pace fluctuations in chapters. I thought it was just Bethany's story, which is fine, but then other POVs came into it and it lost the flow for me.
The first half of this book felt like a slog to get through. I know it's the first of a series, I know it needs to set everything up for the rest of the books but it needed to be twice the amount of pages. Lots if details varied between rushed and so extremely detailed that it felt like it had two personalities.
I still enjoyed the book, but it just didn't feel right. Bethany's voice was the strongest, but I didn't feel a connection with her and the side characters felt like they offered no support.
There is a slow slow burn. So slow, that when it sparks I didn't see why it needed to be in book one.
The ending was also okay, not ground breaking and I am not biting at the bit to read book two. I will though, but I'm in no rush.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve recently been lucky enough to have a string of fantastic reads so I may be harsher than this book deserves, but it just didn’t move me. Blood and Empire is a great example of a “good, not great” book - well-written with a somewhat interesting premise, but nothing to set it apart.
Maxwell’s prose is clean and concise, but lacking some of the signature flair that elevates books in the genre. There’s also a few too many plotlines going on for a book this short, and I didn’t feel like I spent enough time with any of the characters to connect with any of them. I somewhat liked Bethany, but none of the other four(!) POV characters make me feel any type of emotion for them. This feels like the book should be significantly longer (a la Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive) or cut down on some of the many plotlines to allow for deeper exploration and characterization. I would have loved more of Bethany and her experiences in the diviner academy.
Blood and Empire was by no means a bad read, but it didn’t have the spark to make it a standout read.

Disclosure: Big shoutout to Everlast Books for sliding this beauty my way via NetGalley for review. All quips and opinions are straight from me.

If a cover with a fiery redhead clutching a staff and flames swirling against a brooding, mountain-strewn horizon screams “epic fantasy” to you, then Blood and Empire is about to hijack your free time. James Maxwell launches The Gateway Saga with a story so addictive I blazed through it in two days—mostly because putting it down felt like abandoning a heist crew mid-score. This is ambition, magic, and political knife-twisting that’d make Game of Thrones look like a polite debate club.

Here’s the rundown: Bethany, a scrappy seamstress with dreams bigger than her paycheck, longs to join the diviners—elite gateway-hoppers who keep the empire stitched together. Enter Charlton, a cleric armed with books and a knack for mentorship, opening doors she’d only peeked through in her wildest fantasies. Things get messy when her noble dad—who ditched his lands for battlefield flings and hooked up with her mom mid-war—waltzes back into her life. Add a looming invasion and some empire-shaking intrigue, and you'll understand why Bethany has her hands full. It’s Deadly Education meets The Poppy War but with Maxwell’s own epic spin.

Maxwell flexes hard here, juggling three POVs like a pro: an academic lens full of dusty scrolls and gateway lore, a political thread sharper than a freshly forged blade, and a nomadic arc that’s all raw grit and open skies. They braid together so well that you’ll be flipping pages like it’s a race. The world-building paints a landscape you can practically smell—smoke, stone, and all—and the characters? Layered, flawed, and real enough to share a beer with (or dodge when they inevitably stab someone in the back).

The hook is in the pacing—relentless, crisp, and paired with Maxwell’s talent for grounding wild stakes in human heartbeats. Take this gem: “Your stubbornness can be a strength but also a weakness. Bravery must be tempered with wisdom.” It’s like a truth bomb you’ll be chewing on between chapters. There’s a twist or two about lineage that’ll have you texting your book buddy, “Did not see that coming,” but don’t worry—no spoilers here. (If I ruined it, I’d have to apologize with tacos, and I’m fresh out.)

Who’s this for? Readers hooked on fantasy academies like The Atlas Six or The Will of the Many, new adult fans who dig late teens, early twenty-somethings finding their footing, and anyone who savors political chess matches like The Cruel Prince.

My one complaint? It ends. Now I’m stuck pacing like a nomad without a horse, itching for Book 2. That’s not a flaw—that’s proof Maxwell’s got me hooked and waiting for more. If you crave epic fantasy with brains, guts, and a “one more page” pull, snatch up Blood and Empire. You’ll either thank or curse me when you’re bleary-eyed at 2 a.m. I’m cool with either—just pass the coffee.

I received this book as an ARC.

The overall premise of the book is good, though there are several things which make it challenging to get through.

First, the story itself has a strange mixture of falling flat while introducing additional confusion since the descriptions leads you to believe it is from a single POV and then you find out there are multiple.

There is world building and a lot of details to set up an epic fantasy; however, it almost seems like the entire book is to lay the foundational world building and to get you to book two. Which I totally understand is how a series builds, but usually the first book gets the basics of the story, characters, world and starts the main plot then ends on a cliff hanger. A lot of this book felt confusing or disjointed, almost like it should have been a prequel novella VS a standalone intro to the series.

There are some great themes throughout and I think there is a great potential for the story in book two. I will be interested to see how the author continues the series.

Rating-
2/5 stars

Genre-
Fantasy

Age Rating For It-
13+ Only because there is some violence in it but other than that there’s pretty much nothing not even any romance like whatsoever

Tropes-
Slowwwwww burn
Blackmail
Secret father
Sick mother
Multiple pov’s

Thoughts/Would I Recommend This?-
I honestly hated the first like 60% of this book so fricken much. I thought it was super confusing and weird and honestly just not great. The last like 30% of the book is what really came together and is the only reason this wasn’t rated like a -1-star rating in all honestly. The last bit of the book is when everything really came together and that wasn’t too bad and is the only reason I may consider reading the next book, but even that is a really low chance. I also felt unsatisfied with the ending andjust thought it wasn’t very well put together. So all in all I honestly feel bad to say this but I would not recommend this book whatsoever unless you like a book where the romance is nonexistent and the plot is as confusing as h***.

Review of Blood and Empire

Blood and Empire marks the beginning of James Maxwell’s The Gateway Saga, an epic fantasy tale of ambition, power, and destiny. The story follows Bethany, a young seamstress who dreams of becoming a diviner—one of the elite who can navigate the mysterious gateways connecting the empire. However, her lack of wealth and status makes this dream nearly impossible until she meets Charlton, a cleric who offers her guidance. As Bethany struggles to overcome her past and prove herself, external threats of war and political intrigue threaten to tear the empire apart.

Maxwell crafts a compelling world, blending magic, politics, and personal struggle. Bethany is a strong protagonist, her determination making her easy to root for, though her journey follows familiar fantasy tropes of the underdog rising against the odds. The magic system surrounding the gateways is intriguing, but it takes time for the novel to fully explore its potential.

The pacing is uneven—some sections are rich with tension and intrigue, while others drag, particularly in the early chapters as Bethany’s world is established. The supporting characters, including Charlton, add depth, though some relationships could have been developed further to enhance emotional impact. The novel’s themes of power and sacrifice are well-executed, but the storytelling doesn’t always break new ground within the genre.

Overall, Blood and Empire is a solid start to a promising fantasy series. While it may not reinvent the genre, its engaging protagonist, intricate worldbuilding, and political intrigue make it a worthwhile read for fans of epic fantasy.

Rating: 3.5/5

3.5★

An epic fantasy series that starts out promising. The multiple POVs are confusing at times with the transitions, and the pacing could be better. My favorite character Bethany is a standout—her determination, courage, and personality made her journey the most enjoyable part of the book. Overall, it has the potential to be a great series. I’m hopeful for the next installment.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

"Blood and Empire" is the inaugural novel in James Maxwell's epic fantasy series, The Gateway Saga. The story centers on Bethany, a young seamstress with aspirations of becoming a diviner—individuals capable of navigating the enigmatic gateways that connect the empire. Despite her modest background, Bethany's encounter with Charlton, a cleric, offers her a glimpse into a world she once deemed unattainable. As external threats loom and internal political intrigues intensify, Bethany must harness her newfound abilities to confront challenges that could determine the empire's fate.

Readers have lauded the novel for its compelling adventure and robust female protagonists. The intricate political landscape and the unique magic system, powered by intellect and science, have been highlighted as standout elements. However, some have noted that the pacing starts off slowly and that the multiple points of view can be initially perplexing, especially when they don't converge until later in the narrative. Despite these critiques, the overall premise has been praised for its depth and the comprehensive perspective it offers on the unfolding events within the world.

For those interested in exploring a richly woven tale of ambition, magic, and political intrigue, "Blood and Empire" sets the stage for a promising series. The second installment of The Gateway Saga is anticipated to be released in 2025.

An epic, multi-POV political fantasy with rich world building and a unique magic system.

Blood and Empire was a bit of a divergence for me from my usual choices, heavily focussing on the intricate political system of the world Maxwell has created and the journeys that our main characters go on. The book started out with slightly-slow pacing but was nevertheless interesting, urging me to learn more about the Diviners and their unique magic powered by intellect and science. It's a new take on gateway/portal magic to any I've seen before and definitely hooked me - especially given the rigorous requirements to train in this art and Bethany's unlikely credentials.

However, my main gripe with this book is less about the story itself but more about the way its marketed. Having read the description, I was fully expecting to follow Bethany's journey and was somewhat perplexed when multiple other POVs popped up that didn't really seem to converge until nearer the end of the book. Similarly, the book being listed under the romance category (alongside Sci-fi & Fantasy and New Adult) is somewhat perplexing - it seems to me more of a political, epic fantasy with romantic elements but not enough to list it in that category.

The first book seemed to lay a lot of groundwork for future instalments and while it does this well, I wasn't hooked enough by the content to venture outside of my preferred genres and pick up future sequels. I do appreciate that this is often the case in epic fantasy, as there's a lot to establish, but I think revisiting the description and categorisation upon publication could avoid it missing the mark for those who are expecting something else.

With detailed world building, a complicated political landscape, and great groundwork for future books, this would be a suitable choice for fans of Game of Thrones.

The overall premise of this book was fantastic. I love how through the many points of view you see the complete picture of what’s going on within this world. Where it fell a little flat for me was all the angst surrounding the upcoming events you read throughout the book but they never actually happen. It felt like a very long setup for book two (which I am so stoked for) but needed more climatic events in this one.

I received this book for an honest review from NetGalley

Bethany shows us how determination can get us where we want to be. With no education and wealth, Bethany’s dream of becoming a diviner seems almost impossible. With help she is shown an opportunity that she thought could never be. The story was very interesting, kept me wanting to read more and find out what would happen next. I feel it was a little slower paced in the middle but still a solid book. Would suggest this book to my friends most definitely

This book feels mostly like a setup for future books. It didn't really hold strong for me on its own. I was surprised to see the multiple POV, as I expected the only narrator to be Bethany, given the description.

Honestly, James' books are a breath of fresh air and this one was no different to all of the previous books of his that I have read. The character arc of the main character, Bethany, was such fun to follow along with, as she went from simple roots to what appears to be potentially one of the most powerful characters in this world. The parallel threads of war and struggles for power with the impending mysterious threats following not far behind really kept me coming back for more. I honestly looked forward to getting into bed with this one and reading every night, sometimes far later than i should have. I cant wait to see what happens next.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for this arc.

This was my first book by this author but I will be looking into his previous work now.

The synopsis of this book is about Bethany Sylvanna going to school to be a diviner. However there are multiple POVs in this one, in the beginning while learning the characters it was almost too much.

I did feel that the story focused more on the other views than Bethany's, especially for the first half.

The world building and character development is great. And I look forward to learning more about the empire and the history of those before their time.

Overall I enjoyed this one and look forward to book 2.

Thank you net galley for this arc.i really like how the story has a in depth feel to it. the writing style is good and the world building felt solid and stood out. maybe because i'm new to fantasy, it took me a while to get into it. but i do like the characters like julian. i felt it was a good start to new fantasy series.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, I'm excited to share my thought below.

The world building we got was fantastic, I wanted more! I did expect to see different realms from the description being " gateways that unite the empire." I'm sure these will come later in the series but I, personally, needed it in the first book to stay engaged to the story.

The POVs were so good. The inner monologuing was one of my favorite things about this book. On the other hand, there were too many POVs. I originally thought we would be reading solely from Bethany's pov but then it continues to add three others. It felt a bit tedious at times. I would finally become invested in one of the characters to have to wait three more chapters to continue their story. It made it hard for me to stay engaged with each person's story.

The ending didnt feel like the conclusion of this story. It felt like we were at least four chapters away from the end. The finale just wasn't it for me.

This was my first book by this author and I loved the thought he put into descriptions. It made it very immersive and we love that. I could totally see myself picking up another book from them with less POVs and maybe a stand alone if the series all have these type of conclusions.