THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING!! I loved it from start to finish. Their banter and tension were top tier! This hit all of my favorite parts of a Romantasy but still felt unique with the magic system and peaky blinders inspiration.

I literally kicked my feet and squealed when we the MCs were on page together! I am counting the minutes I can dive into book two and see what happens next because that ENDING…. Had me staring at a wall for 10 minutes in disbelief… I loved every second of it!

Tropes and vibes in House of Bane and Blood
Marriage of convenience
Enemies to lovers
Morally gray MMC
Dark urban magic
Mafia houses and cartel politics
Forced proximity newlyweds
Power plays and intrigue
Slow burn tension with spice

From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The dynamic between Milla and Nico is magnetic—sharp banter, simmering chemistry, and that perfect blend of reluctant partnership and undeniable pull. It has the slow burn edge of enemies to lovers but with real depth that makes their relationship feel layered and meaningful.

The plot kept me on my toes with twists I half-expected but still found so satisfying when they unfolded. The looming threat of the Collector paired with the weight of Milla’s family legacy creates nonstop tension, both emotional and political, that pulls you deeper with every page.

What really sets this book apart is the atmosphere. Imagine Peaky Blinders but with arcane science and a post-industrial magical world that feels both gritty and intoxicating. The mafia-style houses, the cartel politics, the secrets buried beneath the city—it’s the kind of world you want to get lost in.

This book deserves way more attention. If you’re looking for dark fantasy with sharp intrigue, high stakes, and a romance that burns slow but hits hard, House of Bane and Blood belongs on your TBR.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Second Sky for the ARC.

I love this! The steam-punk era it captures is very entertaining. I really liked the main characters as well. Their chemistry is touching.

Cue the roller coaster of emotions :)

I need to jump into the next book asap also.

I love the idea of magic with mob vibes. Camilla and Nicola had amazing chemistry, which made the spice even better for the one scene. Going into this I saw reviews that it took on Peaky Blinders. After reading it I would have to agree 100% I plan to also look into getting the audiobook.

“You’re the center of all my circles.


Tropes:
Marriage of convenience
Rivals to Lovers
Touch her and.....
Found Family

This was a first for me! I don't normally read dark mafia-esque fantasy, but dare I say, I am a FAN. This was almost 4 stars IMO. I loved the marriage of convenience and the morally grey MMC, Nico. I equally loved Camilla, the head strong FMC. The magic system is very simple, which made it super easy to understand and not have to flip back and forth to figure out wat was going on. The romance between the MMC and FMC goes from loathe to love REAL fast, but I am not complaining. I would say this book definitely pulls more romance over action but that is a land where I like to live.

Definitely a solid read and I was pining for book2 immediately.......the cliff hanger AGHH!

4.5 ⭐️

Why did I not read this sooner? All my life I’ve been missing a mafia romance set in a gaslamp fantasy world and I didn’t even know it.

Milla was such an interesting blend of tough and submissive, she fell into the trap so many of us do with our families, wanting to do anything for them but not realising she was stifling herself to do it. I loved that she came out of her shell throughout the story and learnt to stand up to them a bit.

Nico is the best ‘touch her and die but soft for her’ combo. He’s ruthless but so devoted to Milla and his family. I really felt for him and the situation he got himself in to get out of prison and the lengths he was willing to go to to avoid going back.

This was such a different kind of read for me, I loved the marriage of convenience, the mafia vibes, the magic system, the family dynamics.

I will absolutely read the second book in this series, I was expecting it to be good as I’d seen reviews from others but it was even better than I expected.

Im giving this a rounded up five star. It was a wild ride, full of tension, banter, world building, political intrigue and magic. I really enjoyed the main characters, Milla and Nico, and really loved the first part of their story, they really are pretty perfect for each other. I did find some parts a little overcomplicated but overall I read this pretty quickly and enjoyed it.

First, a confession: my blog tour stops are always marked down as soon as I’m confirmed, with alerts and dates set in three different places. As someone who’s E2 (ADHD + Giftedness), my very bright mind develops brilliant copy deadline mechanisms, but sometimes my ADHD parts win and I forget to mark the date down. I was planning to leave on the 9th, so I assume there was a mix-up between priorities and dates. That means I missed my stop on this blog tour, and I’m ready to wear a sack and kneel on beans to beg for forgiveness.
Now, onto the book.
This is a very original series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I’m not usually a fan of ganglands or gangsters. Set on an alternate historical plane, rival gangs fight using magic, chemistry, and the undeniable attraction between the F/MMC, Camilla and Nicolai.
There’s a lot of potential, fun, and steam. It’s a good romantasy, full of promise, even if I felt it dragged a bit at times. The worldbuilding is fascinating, the magical system well done and complex, though not always easy to understand.
I had fun reading this, and I’m curious to see what comes next. A good story if you love romantasy and enemy-to-lovers dynamics.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Second Sky for this digital copy, all opinions are mine.
4.5 upped to 5

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up.
I went into this book completely blind and was so surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The writing pulled me in right away and I didn’t want to put it down.

If you love Peaky Blinders vibes, marriage of convenience, rivals to lovers tension, and that gritty mix of mafia/gangs with a strong found family element, this one will hit all the right notes!

The chemistry between our main characters - Nico and Milla was perfection. I’m already so invested in these characters and can’t wait to see where the rest of the series goes. Definitely continuing!

House of Bane and Blood came in like a wrecking ball and absolutely KO’d me straight out of my reading slump.!! I ATE THIS UP!! I devoured this! Two days. TWO DAYS, people which for my slow ass is fast and I now I have a new fave book, FMC and MMC!!

The plot was so intriguing and the twists and turns kept coming! And listen, mafia/peaky blinders but make it fantasy!?!? SAY LESS!

The characters had so much depth and I can't even tell you if I love Mila or Nico more because they are everything and more. And Nana?! I want to be Nana when I grow up!

And do not get me started on the tension!!! Oh my gods. The slow burn had me tighter than the thread I’m currently holding on by. 😂 no for real the slow burn was exquisite and when it finally snapped I was a drooling mess.

Final verdict: I will be screaming at all of my friends to read this book immediately.

4.75/5 stars

ok so I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK. i have been convinced for years now that urban fantasy wasn’t for me, but i think this book has wholeheartedly changed my mind about it. the post industrial/steampunk 1920s mob vibes screamed peaky blinders but make it fantasy, and nico was sooooo perfectly tommy shelby coded it had me SWOONING. i am obsessed with forced proximity and marriage of convenience, and this romance did the sub genres so much justice!!! milla and nico’s chemistry was palpable from page one, and i loved how they were able to establish a connection with one another without either main character knowing who the other was at first—it made the whole rivals to reluctant allies to lovers things that much more convincing. their banter with one another was actually top tier, and my husband definitely came in my book room to check on me a couple times cause i was squealing and kicking my little feet loudly throughout the book.

both camilla and nico were multidimensional characters with loads of generational trauma and expectations to unpack, which made them super relatable and real. i felt so connected to both of them to the point where i felt like i was riding through the ups and downs right alongside them and was actually invested in their wellbeing like they weren’t just characters in a book. i usually end up finishing romantasy books underwhelmed verging on annoyed by the fmc, but camilla was a very compelling character the entirety of the storyline. she screamed badass mob lady boss with all the sass and spunk—strong willed and powerful but also soft and feminine. and don’t even get me started on nico because that man can GET IT. he brought the yearning and grovelling, like that man would do anything for the woman he loves (and man did he show it on many many occasions). he is flirty, brooding, and witty with a filthy god damn mouth to top it all off. the slow burn between them had me begging for more, and i can’t wait for their relationship to bud in book two. i did wish we got a little more character development from our side characters, and especially the attano family because i LOVED them! i can tell their was an attempt to make this found family, but i wanted more “screen time” to get to know them all to make their relationships feel more authentic.

the world building was so fun, and i loved the concept of rival gangs and head houses ruling different parts of the city with their differing magical affiliations. there was so much political intrigue interlaced with swindling corrupt government systems which i felt like fit the post industrial era background so well. my one critique was that i don’t think the magic system was explained very thoroughly, and the book really would have benefitted from either a prologue explaining how the magic system was established a la when the moon hatched, or even just some kind of glossary explaining the different terms/houses/types of magic. i felt that it was a little difficult to wrap my head around at times because i was missing some context. i do think with camilla’s reminent revealed and her in hightower along their other magical beings, we are set up pretty perfectly to gain some more info on it, though.

this series is low key so underhyped. i was so happy i got the opportunity to read the ARC of this one on rerelease, and am hoping it picks up the traction it deserves after going the trad publishing route.

OMG

I loved this from the very beginning. Milla and Nico's banter had me giggling. I loved them so much. I loved watching Mila come into herself more and more.

This book had so many things I love. I'm immediately picking up book 2. It had rival families, enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, interestimg side characters, redemption and sacrifice.

The magic system was also really interesting.

Omg omg omg this book was beautiful and amazing and just so bloody good! I can’t express to you how much i loved every single second. I even cried! I can’t wait for book 2!! 6 stars for me!!

I received an earc of this book from NetGalley, I read it over a week ago.
I liked this book, I thought it was quite entertaining. I loved the mmc. the mafia but make it into a fantasy world wasn’t what I was expecting but I liked it. It’s definitely not a masterpiece and I got quite confused with the world building so that’s why I rated it down one star. The ending did make me want to pick up book 2 just to find out what happens!!

Stop it right nowwwww. That ending was… *shakes head with exasperation* I have no actual words!

I adored every second of this book. The world is unique, the magic system is so interesting. The characters were so fun to read.

Though the world building needs more development, I’m not going to speak on it as of yet because I know it’s a duology so Imma wait until I’ve read the second book to fully make a judgement on it.

Milla was slightly hard to like at first but as I went on in the book I couldn’t help but love her. Idk what it was about her that just wormed its way into my heart. Actually wait I do know, it was when she smashed the glass on Nico’s head LMAOOOOO I WAS SCREAMING. One thing definitely made me like her was her tenacity and loyalty even if it was detrimental to herself. The issues she had with her family broke my hearttttt for her 😭😭 I loved and hated when Nico would tell her.

Nico my mannnnn. Oh he’s so perfect?? From cover to cover I loved him. He litch had me blushing giggling over him. When I saw how he’s a brutal assassin in the streets but a right gentleman when it came to the women in his family, I knew I was done forrrrr. And the way he’s a goner for milla? ABSOLUTELY DONE FOR.

I had sm fun while reading this book for sureee. I cannot wait to read the second one omg.

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for the ARC! ♥︎

Incredible world-building and a great start to a new series! Nothing in this book felt forced or like it was made for the algorithm; it was truly an enjoyable read, and I can't wait for book 2!

I honestly didn’t know where to start with this one. I’ve been wanting to read it forever, but the mixed reviews made me hesitant. Finally, I picked up the courage when I got the ARC—and wow, it was beyond my expectations. It didn’t just meet them, it exceeded them.

The world-building was so well done. Since I’ve never watched Peaky Blinders, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the writing made everything easy to understand and get into. On top of that, I love the marriage of convenience trope, and this book absolutely nailed it.

The rest of the story killed it too—I loved it from beginning to end and now I can’t wait for the sequel!

Wowzers!!!! What an unexpected ride!! I am offering my honest opinion voluntarily.

I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did, but it had me hooked from page one. There is not enough chatter about this book at all! The last few chapters had me so trapped that I immediately looked for book 2!

The worldbuilding, hands down, is phenomenal. An immersive, post-industrial city divided by magic, it feels fresh and immersive. An urban steampunk setting featuring a war between magic users and non-magical humans who utilize science in an attempt to fight back.

Nico and Camilla, from rival families, are forced into a marriage of convenience that quickly evolves into a high-stakes relationship aimed at taking down a corrupt government. Their chemistry is off the charts, the banter is sharp, and the romance is perfect, not too much, just enough. The shoe-fixing scene and Nico’s line — “Let go of my wife, or you will die tonight” — live rent-free in my mind.

Dark, twisty, and full of political intrigue, House of Bane and Blood is a hidden gem that deserves a place on every romantasy lover’s shelf.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Second Sky/Forever | Second Sky, and Alexis L. Menard for the ARC of this book!

House of Bane and Blood had me hooked from the very beginning! Nico our MMC is charismatic with a touch her and die attitude and a deliciously filthy mouth thrown in too! Camilla “Milla” our FMC is strong and loyal with a a protective snake tattoo familiar that has me screaming “I want one”. Milla packs a punch and their banter had me kicking my feet in excitement! The slow burn transition from rivals to lovers was just SO satisfying. The world building has laid such a solid foundation and I can’t wait to see this explored further in book 2! The seductive peaky blinders steampunk vibe combined with a unique science x magic system made it even more captivating! The ending had me screaming for more and I can’t wait to dive into the second book!

The fact that this book isn’t more popular is wild to me! I loved the 1920’s steampunk vibes… with magic. Are you kidding me?! Absolutely perfect combination.

All the characters were well written and well rounded. Nico and Milla were a vortex I happily got sucked into from the beginning. The banter had me so giddy. I’m a sucker for a book with good banter. These two would literally do anything for the other. And the way Nico’s family welcomed Milla in and treated her like one of them was so heart warming.

I loved the way magic was mixed with technology. This was refreshing because it wasn’t like a lot of fantasy books we’re seeing published currently.

This does end on a pretty intense cliffhanger. It definitely left me wanting and extremely eager for the next book. I’m looking forward to listening to City of Mirth & Malice as an audiobook!