“You are what I want every morning when I wake, every need of my flesh, every dream when I close my eyes.”

4.2/5 ⭐️

Set in the post industrial age with Peaky Blinder vibes, this is one of the most unique romantasy books I’ve read in a while.

The fmc Camilla is one hell of a baddie. A glamorous heiress to a railway company, she’s got beauty, brains, and a burning drive for revenge against her rival.

The mmc Nicolai really knows how to yearn. He’s dangerous, morally grey, and exactly what Camilla needs. Their chemistry was fire, and the push and pull between them drove me crazy (in the best way hehe).

This book was packed with amazing tension and banter. Plus, it had top tier “my wife” moments. 🤌🏼 Somehow marriage of convenience / fake marriage always does it for me 🙂‍↕️

I also loved some of the side characters, and the unhinged found family vibes were so wholesome. The world building was a bit difficult for me to wrap my head around, but I still enjoyed the political intrigue and the unique magical system.

Overall, I had such a good time with this one and finished it in just 2 days because I couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait for the next book because the ending of this one destroyed me. 🥲

I really enjoyed this book and was pleasantly surprised! This was my first read where there was a heavy mafia/ organised crime plotline and after finishing I can definitely see how this book is described as Peaky Blinders meets magic and romance!

This book is Dual pov between our two main characters - our FMC Camilla aka Milla and our MMC Nikolais aka Nico who are set up in an Arranged Marriage to help both families financially and in power. Originall rivaling familie ruling opposite sides of the city. This book we follow our main characters as they go from rivals to lovers and make shocking discoveries along the way about Millas true identity.

This was a fast paced read and I really enjoyed the magic system set out in this book. The characters were extremel loveable and I was absolutely rooting for our romance sub plot. The world building did slightly lack for me however this was made up by the character development, relationships, the exciting plot and spicy moments.

If you love the tropes, found family, touch her and die, enemies to lovers with the peaky blinders/mafia vibe then you will absolutely love this book! I absolutely need to read book 2 to continue to story and find out what is in store for Milla and Nico!

House of Bane and Blood follows a tangled web of rival families, dark secrets, and dangerous politics in a richly imagined urban fantasy world. As loyalties are tested and passions ignite, every move could mean power…or ruin.

This book was such a fun, fast-paced read, blending gritty urban fantasy with steampunk vibes, a dash of mystery, and plenty of family drama. The political intrigue and simmering tension kept me hooked, and yes—there’s some delicious spice woven in too! A perfect pick for readers who love complicated relationships and worlds full of secrets

4.25 ⭐️

A typical enemies to lovers fantasy story with a steampunk vibe…

That doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy it or it wasn’t good. It just had some common and overused tropes… which is OKAY. What matters is how you portray it and how you tell the story, and that was well done here.

I really liked the MMC Nico, I liked how ruthless he was, BUT there was also a gentleness to him. He had a soft heart underneath that was extremely loyal to the people he cared about. Camilla was the same in this regard, where she was loyal to her family almost to a fault. The progression of their relationship was believable, it was insta-lust which I didn’t love, but the actual relationship took time to develop so it was okay.

I do wish there was more world building. Knowing that this is a duet, I expected more explanation of the history and how the remnant powers came to be. There was some basic information given but it wasn’t satisfactory for me. I also had an issue with the writing… it felt like the author was trying too hard sometimes and made it unnecessarily complicated, so much so that I would lose the meaning of the sentence and would have to go back and read it again. This could just be a me problem, though.

Other than that, this was a good story and I’m excited to see where it will go.

Tropes:
* Enemies to lover/ Rival families
* Marriage of convenience
* Steampunk setting
* Scarred/disabled hero
* He falls first and hard
* Secret powers

Romantasy with mafia elements? Loved that aspect! The magic system was interesting, the banter was interesting and fun! I wanted to love this, but I just didn’t. a lot of the dialogue was cringy to me, and I was confused enough. I just didn’t feel like the author really took the time to write out and explain what was going on. I enjoyed it for the most part enough that I am going to read book two but I hope its better written and not so rushed.

I was really excited to get my hands on this book, however I am having a really hard time getting into it. I'm about 31% and instead of forcing myself to make it past half way, I unfortunately have decided to DNF.

I cannot pin point exactly what it is as to why I cannot get into it, but I do hope that I can try and reread this in the future.

I had such a great time reading this book! Since page 1 the writing style immediately sucked me in and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.
The chemistry between the two main characters Nicolai and Camilla was off the charts and the slowburn definitely paid off in the end👀

I also loved the found family aspect of this book, all of the Attanos were adorable and it was sweet to see how much they all cared for each other and, by the end, for Milla.
This book also features some complicated fraternal bonds between Mila and her brothers and some very emotional scenes. Many characters, especially Nico, had to face hardships since they were quite young, so there’s also the exploration of the trauma this left behind.

The worldbuilding is interesting, albeit a little confusing at times at the beginning and i loved the buildup to the final revelations!

I’m definitely eager to read book 2!

I’m SO grateful to Second Sky Books for sending a review copy, all opinions are my own!!

The banter? The chemistry? Their relationship? Honestly had me kicking my feet and giggling. I loved it. I had been in a reading slump but this got me out of it, I couldn't put it down!

Peaky blinders with Magic!! Sign me up!

I had a really good time reading this book. I enjoyed the setting and pacing.

A divided city between the people with magic and the people who don't.
Rivals to Lovers
Reluctant Allies
Adventure and mayhem
Crime underworld dynamics

I LOVED Nico! And I loved how the relationship grew between him and Camilla.

Some parts of the story were predictable, but it didn't take away from the story for me at all. And there were some parts I didn't see coming!

Overall, I had a great time with this story, and I can't wait to jump into book two!

From the moment I started this (I tandem read and listened) I could not get enough!

I love loved the family elements. The twists and turns always giving you just a bit more, scatterings of clues keeping you guessing.

The FMC is someone you want to cheer on and the MMC just complicated enough.

There's action. There's secrets. There's longing. There's predicaments you can't see how the characters will get themselves out of. There's forced marriage and proximity. There's a MMC who's not afraid to make good on threats to the ones he cares about. There's rival gangs/families. What's not to love!?

I really liked the magic system. It's not all up in your face but very much there at the same time. You could feel the rivalries between those with and without it. Overall I can't wait to dive into the next one!

I absolutely loved 🐍 Camilla & Nicolai 🦾

The tension and banter between them was immaculate!
❤️‍🔥 Slow Burn 🚂 Rivals to Lovers 💍 Marriage of Convenience

The world was very immersive - 1900’s,🔍 Peaky Blinders ⚙️ Steampunk

I really enjoyed the magic system and politics - Descendants using alchemy and science 🧪 vs. Remnants born with gifts 💫

I loved the family dynamics! 💛I feel for Camilla who is torn between the family she was born into and the family she is finding for herself and Nicolai who is trying to hold his family together! ✨

I am excited for future books and I can’t wait to dive deeper into the world and characters! 📖

Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Rivals to Lovers, Found Family, Morally Grey Characters, Slowburn Romance

Being a huge fan of the Peaky Blinders TV show and fantasy novels, this book met all my expectations and more! I can't emphasise enough how much I enjoyed reading an adult fantasy book set in a 1920s-like era, featuring powerful families, gangs, and rivalries. "House and Bane and Blood" turned out to be exactly what I didn't realise I was missing until I finished it.

Our main female character, Camilla Marchese, is determined to prevent her family's syndicate, The Iron Saint Railway, from going bankrupt. When Nicolai Attano, the leader of a rival family her own has been feuding with for years, proposes to settle her family's debts in exchange for her hand in marriage, Camilla reluctantly agrees. The witty banter and tension between these characters had me gobbling up every interaction and left me wanting more. Although I was at times frustrated with Camilla’s naivety, she proves herself to be an extremely strong and capable MFC who I hope finds more of herself and who she truly is in book two! You also get a massive insight to her upbringing, which explains a LOT. Nico, my goodness, I have found another book boy to obsess over. His motivations, inner struggles, morally grey choices and dedication to his family had me hooked from the very first pages. Don’t get me started on his devotion and protective tendencies over Camilla, it had me swooning.

The banter between Milla and Nico is EVERYTHING. I’m just as obsessed as I was in my original read!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline of the first part of this duology, and although some of the cliffhangers I saw coming the major one in the end left me gobsmacked. I had to re-read the chapter twice to get a firm understanding of what had just happened. It left me completely distraught! It took me about five to six chapters to fully grasp and comprehend the magic system. Eventually, everything clicked, and I found myself much less confused than when I initially started reading. The world building was PHENOMENAL! Even better the second time around!

Nico and Milla were PERFECTION oh my gosh. This was like if Peaky Blinders met fantasy, and I literally could not get enough. 5 stars all around and I can’t wait to jump straight into book two!

When I saw it was compared to peaky Binders I didn't have much hope as I didn't like the tv show. But I really enjoyed this book. This is mafia and fantasy in one and I liked Nicolai. Camilla married him to save her family business. I did not like her brothers at all. They are just out for themselves.

I always enjoy a mafia romance, arranged marriage and this did not disappoint.
Thank you to NetGalley and @Second Sky for the ebook to review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. I absolutely was enthralled with this story. The magical elements, world building, and character development were perfection! I loved the main character, she was a determined bad ass who fought for what she wanted. Nicolai was extremely swoon worthy- he was giving peaky blinders vibe. Check out this book if you enjoy enemies to lovers, magical elements, and an intense plot! I read this book in one day if that is any indication of how I felt!

Loved this! Cannot wait for the next one. Rivals to lovers is my favorite trope and once I got into this one I was hooked!

I loved this book so much. I went in expecting to enjoy it, but it completely swept me away. The steampunk vibes were perfection, giving me those gritty mafia, gaslight, post-industrial feels that I didn’t even know I was craving.

The worldbuilding is absolutely unique: cartel politics, dark magic threaded with science and alchemy, and rival families playing dangerous games. It felt fresh and vivid, like Peaky Blinders collided with a fantasy mafia world, but with its own distinctive magic system that set it apart.

And let’s talk about Nico, the morally gray MMC of my dreams. He’s dangerous, layered, and exactly the kind of brooding antihero I adore. Pairing him with Camilla, whose fierce determination and fire match him step for step, made for such a crackling dynamic. Their chemistry was electric, all slow-burn tension and sharp banter that had me grinning one second and fanning myself the next.

The marriage of convenience trope always has me hooked, but this book elevated it, forced proximity, power struggles, betrayals, and hidden agendas kept me glued to the page. The mafia family backdrop raised the stakes even higher, making every interaction between Nico and Camilla sizzle with tension.

This is one of those books that deserves way more attention than it’s getting. If you love dark fantasy romance with steampunk vibes, morally gray characters, forbidden family rivalries, and a plot packed with secrets and intrigue, do not sleep on this one. I’m obsessed, and I cannot wait for book two! Thanks to second sky books for the gifted arc!

This book grabbed me by the throat and said, “You’re not sleeping tonight.” And I casually said, “Okay.” I thought I was easing into a chill little fantasy. Instead, I got 1920s mafia, political corruption, enemies-to-lovers heat, steampunk chaos, and a man with a metal hand who ruined my standards permanently. I blinked, and suddenly I was emotionally attached to two morally gray murder babies with trust issues and trauma.

The last 15 percent of this book? Actual violence. Not physical (yet), but emotional. I had to stop what I was doing and immediately start book two because I had reached full crisis mode. Not “hmm I wonder what happens next” crisis. This was “if I don’t find out, I will start pacing like a Victorian widow” energy.

The setup is fantastic. Mafia families. Arranged marriage. Science vs. magic. Political backstabbing. Knife-strapping foreplay. I’m sweating just thinking about it. Camilla and Nico hate each other in a way that makes me feel alive. The banter is sharp, the sexual tension is unbearable, and the power dynamics are basically a contact sport. I didn’t read this book. I devoured it. Possibly blacked out somewhere around chapter 10.

Camilla is a walking threat in the best possible way. She is done taking crap from men. Literally. Her first interaction with her new husband ends with her breaking a whiskey glass over his head. And then later has him kneel to strap her knives to her thighs before a party. I want to be her when I grow up. Or date her. Or both.

Nicolai. My sweet morally gray menace. He steps onto the page and immediately ruins every healthy standard I’ve ever had. He’s cocky, deadly, and somehow still manages to be tender in the most unhinged way. He doesn’t bluff. He protects with ruthless intensity, and his loyalty burns hot enough to destroy anyone who dares to cross her. Also, yes, he has a thing for throats. I’ve accepted it. I support it. I might even encourage it.

Some of his lines made me close the book, stare at the wall, and whisper “sir?”

“Let go of my wife, or you will die tonight”

“I would run through fire and burn for you. I would lose arm and leg and limb. I’d do it all over, knowing what would happen to me, if it meant eventually having you as I do now.”

“A slow smile wandered across his lips. “I like how your hair curls more when it’s damp outside. I like how your hips look in a silk dress. I particularly like the way you say my name when you’re frustrated, as it gives me a hint of how you’d say it in my bed.”
“Nicolai!”
“That’s right. Keep practicing.”

I am not well.

The worldbuilding is elite. We’re talking a post-industrial city divided by class, magic, and technology. Magic users vs. non-magic users who use science to fight back? Yes, please. No recycled tropes. No lazy info dumps. Everything feels intentional and immersive. This book gave me a setting, a plot, a romance, a crisis, a reason to live, and also mild emotional damage.

Add in some found family, hidden identities, political sabotage, and a marriage of convenience that turns into everything, and I am now feral and forever changed.

If Alexis doesn’t write 40 more mafia romantasy novels, I will start a riot. I need more immediately. No notes. No thoughts. Just vibes and emotional devastation.

I enjoyed the characters and the slow-burn romance, but I found the world-building a bit confusing and the pacing uneven. Some dialogue didn’t sit well with me. It was an okay read, but I’m not sure I’d continue the series.

I loved this book so much! The tropes made me love the book even more! its exactly what I read! There was pieces missing with the plot to pull it perfectly together though. Camilla and Nicolai were amazing! They were quite literally made for each other!