The concept of this book is unlike anything I’ve read before. Making contracts to summon devils? Even the details of how a contract is formed were so fascinating. It felt like such a fresh idea, and I was hooked right away. The story pulls you in quickly, which makes it easy to stay engaged from the start.

The world-building was clear and easy to follow, and the dynamic between Jack and Evan felt very natural. That might be because it’s YA, there’s a certain lightness in YA stories, and I definitely got that vibe while reading.

As Evan goes through everything, you really feel it with her. I could understand each emotion she experienced, especially during the attack.

It’s hard to say more without spoiling, but if you’re looking for a fast-paced YA story filled with tension and suspense, this one’s for you

This had that element that I was hoping for from a historical element that I was looking for. Qurratulayn wrote this perfectly and am excited for from the 1920s New Orleans environment. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and thought they worked well overall. It had that element that I was looking for and was invested in what was going on in this historical fantasy concept. It was everything that I wanted from this type for book.

Quick horror read perfect for October 😈

I love the cover, world building and darkness this story had to offer. The story just leans a little to YA for my liking though.

Evan makes a contract for revenge against the ruling Necros and accidentally starts unraveling the veil that has held for 300 years. I did not realize that this was going to be a series and now I’m so upset I have to wait for more books. The characters were interesting and diverse and I’m looking forward to how they will interact in the future.

I am IN LOVE with the world-building and characters of Blood & Breath!

The introduction of how devils are called forth by contracts written with different stipulations as well as the dividing class structure between Dun, Magi, and Necro had me hooked from the first chapter. It was also a refreshing setup of the scenery to have the story take place in a 1920s era where new dances, jazz, and discoveries are changing the landscape of society. The juxtaposition of this mixed with the fantasy elements of devils was unique.

Following Evan on her road of revenge, filled with moral conundrums as she discovers the depths of her contract with the unknown devil she called down, I couldn't put the book down without pondering on what was going to happen next. Even until the end of the book, I was held in suspense, wondering if Evan was going to follow through completely with her revenge or not. The twists in the last 2 chapters were gut-wrenching, and I am eager to continue the story in the second book!

What I Enjoyed:
- the details in how contracts are created, from how they're written to how they can call specific devils to perform specific tasks; also, the level of contracts from a few drops of blood to whole-body & breath giving
- the moral ambiguity to our protagonist Evan while on her quest for revenge
- the varying personalities of characters, no matter what class they hail from (Dun, Magi, Necro)
- the general world-building and history of how we've arrived where the story starts from
- the author's prose: descriptive, informative, and easy to read and imagine

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Qurratulayn, and Page Street Publishing for allowing me to read and review an ARC!

Thank you to Page Street Publishing, NetGalley, and Qurratulayn for the opportunity to read and review Blood & Breath!

Blood & Breath is an engaging and refreshing read that hooked me within the first few chapters. I devoured it in just two days, which speaks volumes about how immersive the story is.

The concept of elegant, purposeful contracts used to summon devils felt inventive and full of untapped potential. If this novel is the foundation for a series, it is an excellent start, laying the groundwork for further exploration of power dynamics; not only between devils and humans, but also within human class and race structures.

The pacing is medium to fast, striking a balance between worldbuilding and plot development. Readers are introduced to devil lore, cultural context, and individual backstories without it feeling overwhelming. The relationship between Evan and Jack is particularly compelling. As reluctant mirrors of one another, their mutual distance and misjudgments create tension, while their shared struggles highlight the theme of “like calls to like.”

The dual POV structure adds depth, keeping the narrative dynamic. The devil perspectives, in particular, provide an intriguing lens on the social upheaval beneath the surface.

While the story is not without its imperfections; occasional unevenness in pacing and overlooked plot details, the originality of the premise and the strength of the character dynamics far outweigh these minor issues. Overall, Blood & Breath is a strong, imaginative debut, and I look forward to seeing what Qurratulayn creates next.

Wow wow wow!! First of all I must say that the cover is beautiful. I love it now. Let’s get to read. It was a very exciting fun drama filled read. I loved it. I enjoyed every last page and I’m so glad that I was able to get my hands on this copy before it even hit the shelves. It was a breath of fresh air. Thank you and I read it within 24 hours. I stayed up all night reading.

I wouldn't have requested this book if I hadn't noticed a specific tag on Edelweiss because I usually don't want to read non-queer books, but boy was I lucky in getting the chance to read this.

I thought it was fresh and exciting. Qurratulayn has definitely a good future on the horizon.