The story follows Cassidy, a human who finds herself entangled in a world of vampires, werewolves, and witches. As she navigates this dangerous new reality, she discovers hidden truths about her own lineage and the dark secrets that the academy harbors.​Cassidy is portrayed as a strong and resilient protagonist who faces numerous challenges head-on. Her interactions with other characters, particularly the enigmatic and brooding Zane, add depth to the story. Wylde's writing is immersive, with vivid descriptions that bring the supernatural elements to life. The pacing is steady, allowing for character development and world-building without overwhelming the reader.

The concept for this book and what the plot could be - - 5 stars
The actual book and plot -- 3 stars

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Let's start with the good: the amnesia trope draws the reader in and lets us learn about the world Everly is in while she is also learning about it. Very cool idea. This was my first time reading a 'dark fantasy' novel with that trope. The MMCs are suitably dark and broody. The FMC is a good mix of independent but reliant on friends.

What didn't work for me personally:
- The writing style was, at least in my kindle version, a lot of single lines, even when it wasn't dialogue, and sometimes a few sentences together before the paragraph break (space in between lines/sentences). It read like every sentence was some big reveal or something dramatic, even when it wasn't.
- The book just needed...more. More detail about the world. More depth for the individual characters. When very major things happened to the characters, and several VERY major things happen to multiple characters, it felt out of the blue. Multiple times I annotated my Kindle book with "I feel like I'm missing some backstory here"
- The ending also felt rushed and I couldn't even be surprised about the 'twist' of who Everly is because I felt I didn't have enough context to appreciate how big of a deal the reveal was.
- Little things, like, if Everly has been at the school for years, why are all the professors starting class like it's everyone's first day? Like, the vampire MMC is hundreds of years old? But enrolled in the academy? (Are the vampires born? Made? How do they age? How is this one hundreds of years old but also in high school?)

Maybe a lot of my questions/concerns will be addressed in Book 2, but I probably won't remember to read it.

This book hooked me right from the beginning. It's a fast-paced, dark fantasy romance with no spice.

Everly wakes up without her memories, and she has to figure out who she can trust and what happened. I loved that it had fae, vampires, werewolves, and hybrids. I'm a big paranormal lover. I can't wait to see what happens in book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

This book was a bit of an odd one for me if I'm being completely honest. Its not a bad book by any means. The amnesia aspect had me off kilter for a fair bit and I think that if the book had of had an initial chapter introducing the world and the character before her amnesia, the book would have had a bit better of a flow to it. It would have also been better if the author had leant harder into the confusion about who to trust aspect if the story.

Everly, our FMC, wakes up after visiting the Nightveil forest with amnesia. This story follows her "recovery" and her journey to learning why she was in the forest to begin with & just who Lucien (Our Vampire MMC), Kai (Our Werewolf MMC) and Riven (Our Fae MMC) are to her.

Story wise, there are some issues. Our MMC's have entirely too much familiarity with her that is not really explained. Were they together before this? Were they just friends? If the boys are the age that they are, why are they not teachers instead? There is also a bit of confusion as to why the Headmistress doesn't explore any of the other options available to her, when Everly clearly breaks the rules in the beginning. Currently the book is very love triangle-y, and I'm not really sure who she will get with... though I'm hoping that its all three MMC's.

With some reworking, this book could be a 4 or 5 star read.

Blood and Secrets was a fun read. I enjoyed the characters and the story. I look forward to seeing what will happen in future books.

Blood & Secrets by Serenity Wylde:

“Blood & Secrets” does an amazing job of introducing us to the dark fantasy world of Nightveil Academy while setting up the plot for future books through budding relationships between not only Everly and her three dark princes but between Everly’s group of friends. I am really looking forward to seeing the relationships between the characters develop throughout the series. I would highly recommend this book if you are a fan of pet names (all three of the princes have their own pet names for Everly). This book is perfect for people looking for a book that isn’t too spicy but more of a slow burn romance. I look forward to reading the next book in the series especially with the number of mysteries you are left with at the end of this book.

Thank you to Serenity Wylde, BookBuzz and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and leave an honest review.

Loved reading the mesmerizing and engaging paranormal story. After Everly, a vampire hybrid, is attacked, almost dies, and is back at the Nightveil Academy, she tries to find out the secrets of her hidden past along with her friends Sera and Elias, Riven, the fae prince, Kai, a werewolf outcast, and Lucien, the vampire heir. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and. a must read riveting story. Can't wait to read the next story in the series by the amazing author, Serenity Wylde!

4/5⭐️ First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of “Blood & secrets”. I enjoyed the plot of this book; the gothic academy, the atmosphere, the different creatures (vampires, werewolves, fae…), the lore,and i also really liked the personality and development of the main characters of the story. If you like romantasy books with stories regarding any of these creatures you’ll like it.

Review of Blood & Secrets by Serenity Wylde
* * * * *
A fantasy supernatural reverse harem romantasy read that is mysterious and intruiging right from page one!

Everly's life starts off with a mystery, as she wakes up in a strange room with even stranger people, sensing that she is not being told the full truth of who she is, why she's at a strange academy, and what has happened to her.
She's a hybrid. She's a student at Nightveil. She's done something she shouldn't have...apparently.
With three devilishly handsome men - all from different walks of life - constantly watching her, she feels more distracted than she is getting closer to the truth of why she was found on the edge of the forest where people don't come back as they once were.
Secrets. Mysteries. Threats. Danger. A curse. A choice to make.
Who is really on Everly's side?

Very happy I gave this a change. It was a great romantasy read, with fantasy male romance partners to keep it all very interesting and sparking that sexual tension we all love. With the mix of hybrids, vamps, wolfies and fae, it is sure to keep us sucked into this world and understand its structure to help build out characters, specifically the hunk Kai, the intense Lucien, and magnetic Riven. As relationships build and shift, we of course get to that epic cliffhanger!!!

🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 Blood Secrets
💫💫💫

Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun and easy read that has opened the series up nicely.

Everly wakes up and finds herself in an Academy she does not remember attending and finding out that she is a vampire hybrid.

I like the premise for this book but I wish we had of seen more of the school. We are instantly thrown into trying to find out which of the three MMCc she will choose and the mystery of why she was near the Veilwood in the first place.

It is an amnesia story, but I felt like the writing could've had more bulk. The chapters are short and the reasoning for some character interactions or reactions confused me.

There is no spice in this book, which is completely okay. I don't know who our FMC will choose but if it ends up being all three I won't be mad.

Nice, quick YA read.

It’s exciting that there’s multiple MMCs after our main girl, you don’t know who’s she’s going to choose.

The chapters are short, the pacing is super fast. Realistically it could do with some bulking out, more time passing, more information/lore, deeper connections and relationships.
The air is always thick and everything smells metallic which got a bit repetitive.

The end of the book felt very rushed and the mention of marriage really caught me off-guard as it kinda came out of nowhere. That being said, I’m curious to know what happens in the next book and where our characters end up.

Thanks NetGalley and Serenity Wylde for letting me read this early.

The book Blood & Secrets by Serenity Wylde is sort of good. In the first half it kept teasing that it was going to get more interesting but than went back to a slower pace. Even with this is kept me wanting more and loved it in the end.

I just finished the book, and I’m sitting at a solid 3.5 stars. The dark, suspenseful atmosphere hooked me right from the start, and I loved the morally complex characters. The romance was steamy, with plenty of chemistry, but there were times I felt like the emotional buildup was a bit lacking. The pacing was sometimes too quick, especially when it came to the relationship development. The leads were compelling, but I wanted to see more of their growth and struggles, especially in their connection with each other. The mystery aspect was interesting, but not fully fleshed out, and I think it could’ve added more depth to the story. Overall, I enjoyed it for its intensity and darker vibe, but it didn’t completely blow me away. It’s a good pick if you’re into high-stakes romances with some mystery

What a great way to end book 1! I can't wait to read book 2.

I loved the way Blood & Secrets threw me right into a mystery, leaving me to solve and understand what is going on alongside Everly, the FMC. It carried a great mix of romance and adventure, and was a relatively quick read.

I feel like the only thing i didn't like too much is the fact that the world building wasn't as solid as I would've liked it to be, but it was still good.

The romance between Everly and each of the MMC's was really well-written and kept me on my toes throughout the whole book, wondering who she'd choose in the end, though to be honest I was rooting for her to just get with them all.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this book, all opinions are my own.

A Captivating Fantasy Read
If you're a fan of the Zodiac Academy or the House of Night series, you'll likely enjoy "Blood Secrets" by Serenity Wylde. This book offers a similar blend of fantasy and adventure, with a strong female protagonist at its center. Everly's journey is compelling, as she navigates a world shrouded in mystery after a bout of amnesia leaves her questioning her own identity.

The world-building in "Blood Secrets" is engaging and the characters are intriguing. The pacing is fast-moving, making it easy to become fully immersed in the story. I'm looking forward to continuing the series and uncovering more secrets alongside Everly. If you enjoy fantasy and adventure, "Blood Secrets" is definitely worth checking out.

Thank you NetGalley for this free book for an honest review!

dark but so good!
I was expecting this to be like scary for some reason but it pulls you in and its so captivating!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

I thought this book had wonderful content and beautiful characters development and style. I love the characters and theme of everything in the plot and the timing and pacing of the book and the world building and setting of the story in every chapter. I recommend highly to everyone of all ages. This book is great if looking for something new and exciting. Or looking to try something new in information and plot. The main characters are great and beautiful writing by the author. And audience will truly love them. I think book is one of favorite I have ever read. I can’t choose between characters I love them all

Blood & Secrets offers a promising premise, with its intriguing use of the amnesia trope that has the potential for a gripping storyline. However, it didn't manage to hook me right away, and the writing style left much to be desired.

I found the narrative confusing and felt it lacked the emotional depth and immersive worldbuilding necessary to connect with the characters or fully engage with the story.

That said, its fast-paced plot makes it an easy read for those who enjoy action-driven books. Ultimately, while it has some interesting ideas, the book wasn’t a good fit for me personally.

Blood & Secrets is a thrilling ride through a supernatural academy filled with secrets, danger, and steamy tension. The main character’s struggle with her identity and powers had me turning the pages way past bedtime, and the love triangle? Messy in the best way. I liked how the story kept me guessing—who to trust, what was real, and how it would all explode when the blood moon rose. I really enjoyed the mix of mystery and magic, and I’m already itching for the next book.

I would like to express my appreciation to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is now available, having already been released. The story is a dramatic, action-packed tale featuring vampires, fae, werewolves, and hybrids, which immediately captured my interest.

The romance aspects are skillfully interwoven, making it difficult to put the book down. The dilemma remains: will you support Team Kai, Jacob, or Lucien? The characters are outstanding, with Lucien radiating as the fated vampire, Kai the best friend turned lover werewold ,and Riven being the mysterious fae prince keep you on your toes right up until the very end.

Blood & Secrets is sure to become your new fixation. I strongly recommend reading it. I look forward to the release of Book #2. 🖤🌒🩸