The pacing was perfect, kept my attention until the end. It was a wild, spicy story and would recommend to anyone that loves a dark academia setting.

I DNF but wanted to provide feedback anyway.

Here's what I liked about this book:
- Alice the vampire (couldn't think of anyone else's face than Alice Cullen)
- The world: I liked the different biblical, magical species all in one college!

Now, here's why I DNF:
- I was happy to read that the age range going to Avalon college was mid twenties/thirties. But how they act? 17yo, 20yo max. I think if the age range was truer to how the characters behave, it would have not bothered me as much as it did.

- Eyes rolled. Rolling eyes. Eyes rolling. This is mentioned too much and this would be the main reason I DNF'd. I was too aware of the repetition and it took the fun out of my reading.

This book might be for other readers, who expect a YA spicy book.

This book cured my Zodiac Academy hangover!

If you’re a person who loves the world of Zodiac or On Wings of Blood (the dark academia lovers) then this is for you. I thought I’d never read anything as good again, but this really pulled it out the bag!

The adventure, world building, character and plot was all amazing! Deffo one of my best reads this year!!

A paranormal dark academia setting with fae, vampires, angels, demons, shifters, etc. This was reverse grumpy x sunshine to the max as Connor was a literal angel with a golden retriever personality.

I loved the mystery behind Summer's past, her heritage, the murders, and her stalker. Her close relationship with her roommate/best friend, Alice, and her friendships with Connor's brothers' were heartwarming as she's always been alone and isolated.

The fact that the characters were supposed to be in their late 20s/early 30s but acted like college freshman irked me a little (should've just made them college freshman aged if they were going to act that immature). At one point, I was guessing if this was eventually going to be a why choose because of all the potential male interests (guess we'll find out later in the series).

The book was way longer than it needed to be and caused the pacing to feel off—the beginning was great/captivating and had plot, but then we got like 400+ pages of filler with a lot of repetitive s*x scenes that I ended up skimming (it started feeling like there was one in every scene with Summer and Connor). However, the last few 100 pages were great and filled with twists, and I can't wait for book 2 to find out what happens next.

The ending was predictable but I was unprepared for how emotionally traumatic absolutely everything else in this book would be. Shattered.
The characters in the book were all so fascinating and well developed. I’m excited to watch more from them as this series develops. The spicy scenes were fantastic but didn’t take away from how intriguing and mysterious the central plot was. I love a dense book and I’m really impressed with how well written and descriptive everything was. It wasn’t overly flowery and added great depth to an already amazing story.

⭐⭐⭐✨

ARC Review

This book was enjoyable enough to keep me reading for the full 900+ pages.

The magic system is really interesting and has so much promise and room for further expansion.

The story also has some wonderful characters plus plenty of excitement and mystery.

However, I personally didn’t like the main character. I found her very erratic, constantly changing her moods, behaviours and opinions. As the majority of the book is from her point of view, it did make it hard to persevere at times.

Additionally, loads of the book could have been cut. Massive sections added nothing to the story or were very repetitive, which again made the book drag in places.

I may pick up the second book to see where the story goes, but only if it’s the final of the series!

Themes/Tropes:
High Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Dark, Academia, Found Family, Loyal Sidekick, Damsel in Distress, Tragic Backstory, Emotional Scars, Waiting Evil, Afraid to Commit, Golden Retriever, He Falls First, Kidnapping, Stalker, Love Triangle, Gods, Angels & Demons, Magic, Monsters/Fantastical Creatures, Vampires, Shifters, Multi-world & Multi POV.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4/5 🌶

I struggled with the length and some of the characters' immaturity, but I still really enjoyed the plot and setting! It did not leave me obsessed by the end, but I still want to read more!!

I’m obsessed with this book. The ending finished me and I can’t wait for the next book🙈✨with this book I felt every emotion from happiness to sadness.
Blood and Betrayals is 1000 pages long which I know is a lot but it’s 100% worth it, so give it a try if you’re interested in this:
- Dark academia/university
- Murder mystery
- Mysterious stalker
- Black cat fmc with trauma
- Golden retriever mmc
- Found family
Also it has magic that uses runes, different realms, a lot of different species(fae, vampires, shifters, angels, etc.)
Please check trigger warnings cause there are a few harsch ones
For me it lacked nothing, for me it has a good world building with detailed description of different realms, it shows us evolvement in relationships of different characters and really makes you care for everyone in this book, you also get the subplot of murder mysteries happening while our fmc is being stalked by some anonymous stalker
SUMMER(our fmc)
I really liked her and her character growth, throughout the book we get to know her and her traumatic past, we see why she is this way. Her friendship with Alice is really beautiful, they are true friends. Her relationship with Connor is so bright and heartwarming🥺🥺🥰
CONNOR(our mmc)
He is so bright and sunny, real angel. From the beginning he presents himself as gentleman and sweet man. We also get to know his brothers and family and the love between them is palpable in the air.
ALICE(best friend of our fmc)
This girl is an icon, I love her. She and Summer have really deep connection between them, they were ready to do anything to protect each other. I liked her protectiveness over Summer it was kind of cute🙃
Also I just need to mention the very hot and broody headmaster in this book, I can’t wait to see more of him
I can’t wait to continue this story and to know how everything will go after that ending.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book

3.75 stars

I wanted to be wow'd and obsessed with this book since it's been all over my Instagram feed and, while I found the story entertaining, I did struggle a bit through it. For the first few chapters, I felt "old" while I was reading (I'm in my late 30's) - the characters felt immature, and I found myself rolling my eyes at some of the interactions. Like they’re supposed to be in their mid/late 20’s, early 30’s and trying out for the cheer squad??? It didn't pick up for me until Connor was introduced, and even then, sometimes his interactions with Summer are a little cringeworthy/CW-esque. I occasionally found myself skimming through pages, feeling that some of the story was filler and not necessary (maybe it will come together in book 2?). Now, don't get me wrong, did I get completely sucked in and invested in this book - absolutely yes! Am I obsessed with book boyfriend, Connor? Also yes.. Do I need to know who the Stranger is? Completely! Was I left damaged by the end? Um, yes. Will I read book two when it comes out in March? 1,000%.

If you’re still emotionally recovering from Zodiac Academy, welcome to your next beautiful mistake. Blood & Betrayals has it all: magic, murder, secrets, spicy slow-burn romance, and a main character who just wants peace but instead gets trauma, a stalker, and maybe a soulmate.

Summer is the definition of “I don’t want friends” and then immediately collects the best found family ever. There’s a vampire bestie, an angel love interest, a suspicious murder plot, and a university that’s basically Hogwarts with more blood and fewer safety regulations.

Yes, it’s long. Yes, it ruined me. Yes, I’m already rereading certain chapters like a feral little goblin.

Five stars, one emotional breakdown, and absolutely no regrets. Book two better come with therapy vouchers.

Thank you SO much Jeanette Rose & Alexis Rune for allowing me to ARC this fine piece of literature =) This one SLAPS!

This book absolutely shattered what was left of my trust issues—and I loved every second of it. Every chapter felt like betrayal was hiding just beneath the surface, and I devoured it like the little chaos goblin I am.

The drama? Top tier.
The emotional whiplash? Relentless.
The urge to strangle half the characters while wanting to wrap them in a blanket and protect them forever? Alarming. No one was safe. Especially not my mental state.

I was feral. Pacing the room. Whispering “no no no no” like I was in some kind of literary exorcism. And yet... I kept reading. Because self-control left the chat, and this series owns my soul now.


If betrayal is your love language, welcome home. This is your book.

I devoured this book and haven’t stopped thinking about it. It’s dark, messy, emotionally raw and yes she’s a thick one.

We’re talking:
- Dark academia, magical university chaos
- Black cat fmc x golden retriever mmc
- Found family with a feral vampire bestie
- A murder mystery and a stalker with vibes
- Spice that spices but doesn’t overpower the story
- Mental health rep and trauma unpacked with care
- Multi-realm lore, angels, fae, vampires, runes and magic galore

Summer is one of those heroines who feels like a real person. Guarded, viciously independent, lonely, emotionally complex and the authors let her be all those things unapologetically. She hurts people. She pushes away connection. She self-sabotages. And she’s trying. I adored her.

Then there’s Alice, her vampire roommate and chaotic soulmate of a best friend. Their friendship absolutely stole my heart it’s sharp and tender and protective and messy. I would read an entire spin-off of just them being unhinged and loyal together. And don’t even get me started on the men: Connor the cinnamon roll angel (who I didn’t trust for a full 200 pages because he was too nice), the broody, morally gray headmaster (obsessed), Max, the Morningstar brothers, and the stalker. Yes, that’s a sentence I said.

And the romance? Multi layered and there's a possible reverse harem unfolding (or it could just be wishful thinking) but nothing feels rushed or shallow. There’s development. There’s earned intimacy. There’s spice with actual emotional weight behind it.

Yes, it’s long. Yes, it’s extra. No, it’s not going to be for everyone. But it was absolutely for me. If you want to live inside a messy, magic-fueled CW show but with mental health depth, plot, pain, romance, and banter that’ll make you laugh and scream into the voidthis is your book.

Also: the cliffhanger? I need emotional support and book two yesterday.

This book ruined my trust issues even further and I liked it. Every chapter felt like betrayal was lurking just off the page, and I was eating it up like a little chaos gremlin.

The drama? Unmatched. The emotional whiplash? Constant. The way I wanted to strangle half the characters while simultaneously protecting them with my life? Concerning. No one was safe. Least of all, my sanity.

I was feral. I was yelling. I was pacing my room whispering “no no no no” like a broken record. And then I kept reading. Because I have no self-control and this series owns me now.

Some plot points had me like ??? but honestly, I didn’t care. I was too busy watching the slow-burn emotional damage unfold. If betrayal is your love language, congrats. This is your book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for absolutely wrecking me.

Arc Review !!

Tropes: dark academia, paranormal fantasy, murder mystery, fae/vampires/shifters/angels

Want to start off by saying I'm just starting off this book so this is an early review (The book is massive!!) so there are plenty of aspects/plot I haven't gotten to yet. But, I am loving it so far! I saw many people comparing this to zodiac academy (which I have yet to read although I know a bit about) and I can see the comparison! I really enjoyed all of the found family throughout this adventure as well as just having that best friend there. Of course everyone loves a morally grey love interest as well! I will say it is a bit over the top and doesn't have as much world-building but I don't think it hinders the book!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book hooked me more than I thought it would. It is a really great book. I liked most of the things, just the pacing felt a little rushed.

While at times this felt very lengthy, I was completely caught off guard and enraptured with this story. I felt like I connected with the FMC immediately, and the romance was quick, but you found yourself rooting for them anyways as they worked through relationship hurdles. I feel like this novel is definitely a great base layer for an amazing series and I CANNOT wait to read the next one - the cliffhanger on this one is brutal!

I’m struggling to decide how to rate this book.
It was unnecessarily long and could’ve easily been a couple hundred pages shorter… but honestly? I liked it.

Some books go from 0 to 100 in a few pages. This one? The author grants the whole story in what feels like a day-by-day narration.
We literally follow the entire academic year, and because of that, I felt the connection and relationships deeply.
So deeply that the ending devastated me.

I was SOBBING!😭

Because of its length, I get that it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. What really kept me glued to the pages was trying to figure out who the stranger was.

Plot-wise, I actually liked it a lot. But yes—again—it’s very long. And despite the murders, I wouldn’t call it particularly dark or spicy. There are a lot of sex scenes (like, every other chapter), but they’re very “white.” Definitely not too steamy.
Also, don’t expect major twists—nothing big happens until the very last pages.
The characters are amazing—their personalities really do reflect their species.
They’re supposedly in their 30s, but they felt younger. Then again… they’re immortal. So being 30 is probably like being a toddler.

In conclusion, this book left me absolutely devastated and filled with so many—SO MANY—questions. I thought I had answers.
I don’t. I’m doubting everything. I need answers NOW 😭

5/5 Stars 🌟 | 4/5 Chili Peppers 🌶️

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I picked this up after seeing a ton of hype from several social media influencers—and I’m so glad I did. If I could give this more than five stars, I would. I loved this book.

Yes, it’s over 1000 pages, and yes, that might scare some people off, but trust me—it’s so, so worth it. The length didn’t bother me at all because it delivered everything I didn’t know I was craving: think Harry Potter (but with a female lead) meets Gossip Girl meets Zodiac Academy. It gave me major CW teen drama vibes—but make it magical university, hot supernaturals and angsty mid-twenties chaos—and I was living for it.

I’ve seen some reviews knock the page count or say there’s “filler,” but personally, I loved the extra time spent on relationship dynamics and worldbuilding. When I read magical academy books, I want to live there—I want the classes, the politics, the gossip, the slow-burn bonds. I got the same immersive joy from this that I had reading the longer Harry Potter books growing up, and I wouldn’t cut a single page.

The FMC, Summer, is a fae—but not the typical kind. She’s an outsider, traumatized, and emotionally closed off (understandably so). Then we meet her vampire roommate Alice, who’s feral, hilarious, and fiercely loyal—I adore her. And then there’s Connor: a cinnamon roll angel with golden retriever energy who’s absolutely smitten with Summer. There are also other male characters that definitely give off a slow-build harem vibe, and while I can’t say for sure if this becomes a reverse harem, I’ve heard whispers (👀). If it is, it’s shaping up to be top tier. What I appreciated most is that the romance—RH or not—isn’t instant. There’s actual development and emotional groundwork being laid, which makes everything more satisfying.

That said, don’t worry—there is spice, and Summer is a confident, sexually liberated woman who goes after what she wants. But the story never sacrifices plot for spice. It’s balanced, intentional, and well-paced.

And that cliffhanger? Gut-wrenching. I cried. I’m already dreading the long wait until 2026, but this book has absolutely secured a spot on my list of all-time favorites.

If you love dark academia, complex magical worlds, slow-burn romance with depth, and characters you can’t stop thinking about—pick this up immediately.

NOT THAT CLIFFHANGER! Okay so immediately I was sucked into this book. I tend to not be big into urban fantasy but this one really got me. I bonded quickly with the characters and surprisingly loved the use of social media in this. I also loved the older ages for the characters compared to other school setting books. Towards the middle of the book I began to get antsy and felt like it could have picked up the pace. Some of the middle chunk felt a bit repetitive and then the very end felt super rushed and unfinished even if it was going to leave off that way. I will absolutely be picking up the next book.

While I love a spicy scene, I think a few of those moments could have been eliminated. I'm also not sure where the different love interests will go or if they are even needed.

I felt like I could totally relate to Summer's trauma and i'm interested to see where the story goes.

'Summer finds herself as the obsession of the sadistic stalker with the Seven lessons to learn. With the help of her new friends, she races against the clock to solve the mystery, hoping to save lives and catch the killer before it's too late.'

For a book that has over 1000 pages I ate this book up in three sittings, did I think some pages could have been cut out, yes, did it make me enjoy the book anyless, no.

It felt like I was reading a thriller rather than a fantasy book it was quick paced and chock full of drama and trauma

Like nothing I have read before. My fav character Alice, hilarious Vampire.

looking out for book number 2