📚Crystal Iris
✍🏻Blair Shadows
Blurb:
She was warned. He was cursed. Neither of them listened.

A necklace that feeds on blood.
A forbidden touch.
A love that could destroy them both.

On the night of my engagement party, my estranged father crashed back into my life—only to disappear again, leaving behind a prism necklace I can’t take off.

It’s not just jewelry.
It’s alive.
It pulses with ancient magic—blood-bound, volatile, and hungry for more than I understand.

Now it’s changing me—pulling me away from the life I swore I wanted… and toward Hoyt Locklear, a stranger forged in secrets and danger.
A man with a prism of his own.
A man I was never supposed to touch.

Because when our skin meets, the magic strikes back.
Violent. Addictive. Punishing.

And still, I can’t stay away.

Caught between a fiancé who promised me safety—and a man whose touch feels like fate—I’m falling deeper into a prophecy I can’t escape.

The longer I wear this necklace, the more it owns me.
And the less I want to be saved.

For readers who crave forbidden love, cursed magic, and stories where desire demands a price.

My Thoughts:
Professor Iris De Loughery's on her thirtieth birthday her dad shows up after seventeen years of absence and gives her a necklace and a letter. She learns that the prism and letter are actually from her dead mother. When strange things start happening with the prism, the Harvard are history professor doesn't want to take its off her neck, even though her best friend believes it's possessed. Iris wants to discover how and why the prism sometimes lights up. One day, the prism somehow transports her to another place, and she sees a handsome dark haired man. Shortly after, she meets the man she saw earlier and discovers he is a prism possessor, too. Even thought Iris is soon to be married, she feels connected to that man because of the prism. they both want to learn more about their necklaces, hoping they're not dangerous. The story reads like a romantic suspense, with a slow burn romance and lots of family intrigue and drama. This book beautifully weaves themes of healing, grief, and stepping out of one’s comfort zone as Iris learns to embrace her own growth and resilience. I absolutely loved the plot and how the pendant plays such a huge role throughout this book !! definitely can’t wait to start the next one.
Thanks to NetGalley, Leblon Publishing, Author Blair M. Shadows for the complimentary copy of "Crystal Iris" I am leaving my review in appreciation.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A 3.5 for me, the story was good and the last few chapters lead up to a great cliff hanger for a second book making me want to know more about the prisms but I just couldn’t get over how much I disliked the main characters- iris didn’t have the balls to tell Aaron she didn’t love him so she broke his heart by emotionally cheating on him. Aaron was a needy spoilt brat and Hoyt just seemed off to me. When the next in the series comes out I may continue to read
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review, I also enjoyed the audiobook

This book surprised me—in the best way. I didn’t expect to finish it in one night, but once I got past the early chapters, I couldn’t stop. The beginning wasn’t confusing because of the writing; I was just too focused on waiting for that big narrative shift. I kept anticipating the “moment everything changes,” so I read the opening with a kind of restless impatience. Once the story hit that point, though? I was all in.

Iris completely won me over. She’s academically sharp, self-possessed, and never afraid to voice her thoughts—even when she’s feeling shy. Her growth arc is handled with so much respect; it doesn’t infantilize her or make it seem like she’s helpless. Instead, we watch her confront the limitations she’s placed on herself and slowly release them. It was genuinely relatable and refreshing.

Honestly? Peak male character energy. His devotion to Iris is clear from the start, not through dramatic declarations but through consistent, deliberate action. He’s protective without being controlling, confident without being arrogant,

What I appreciated most is that the romance and spice never overwhelm the plot. The steamy moments are well-paced and meaningful, Just enough to add heat, not enough to eclipse the storyline.

Overall, really good!

Loved the twist at the end but this storyline did not give me anything incredibly unique in the urban fantasy sector. I believe the romance and plot ar well balanced - this would be a great way for someone to approach something alittle more spicy than just an entry level novel.