Blade and Bone
Oaths of Steel and Shadow
by D R Quill
You must sign in to see if this title is available for request. Sign In or Register Now
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date May 01 2026 | Archive Date Apr 23 2026
Talking about this book? Use #BladeandBone #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!
Description
He feels everything she feels.
Every fear she hides. Every wound she carries. Every truth she's never told anyone.
He knows her. Completely. And he stays anyway.
***
Astrid Bjornsdottir died on a battlefield. The goddess Freyja brought her back with a mission: infiltrate the hall of Erik Bloodaxe, a cursed berserker warlord, steal back the god-forged weapon that seals the barrier between the living and the dead, and return it to Asgard before the draugr consume the Nine Realms.
The plan was simple. Pose as his thrall. Find the weapon. Feel nothing.
But Freyja doesn't trust her. So the goddess binds their souls together with a living connection that makes Astrid feel everything Erik feels. His rage. His grief. His desperate, daily war against the monster the curse is turning him into.
She was supposed to use that bond to find his weakness.
Instead, it shows her the truth.
Erik feels her too. Every wall she's built. Every wound she's hidden. The grief beneath the warrior's pride. The loneliness she's never admitted to anyone. Through the bond, he sees the woman no one else has ever bothered to look for. And he doesn't look away.
She came to betray him. She's falling for the one man who has ever truly known her.
Now Astrid must choose: complete her mission and save the world, or protect the cursed, broken, achingly human man who is the first person in her life who has ever seen her as she really is.
Some oaths cannot be broken. Some loves are worth defying the gods. And being truly known by someone, even a man who could destroy everything, might be the most dangerous thing of all.
***
Soul bond • Enemies to lovers • He falls first • Forced proximity • Morally gray FMC • Grumpy/sunshine • Touch her and die • Norse mythology • Slow burn with spice
For readers of A Fate Inked in Blood, From Blood and Ash, and Fourth Wing.
A Note From the Publisher
- Review deadline: April 25, 2026 (preferred for launch momentum)
- Reviews welcome on Amazon, Goodreads, blogs, social media
CONTENT NOTES:
- Heat level: Moderate (closed door intimate scenes)
- Tropes: Soul bond, enemies to lovers, he falls first, cursed hero
- For adult readers 18+
Advance Praise
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"This book completely pulled me in from the first chapter. The soul bond between Astrid and Erik was such a unique way to reveal their emotions and inner struggles. I loved how the story blended Norse mythology, action, and romance while slowly building tension between enemies who begin to understand each other. Astrid is a strong but wounded heroine, and Erik's battle with his curse made him incredibly compelling. The slow burn romance felt earned and emotional. If you enjoy morally gray characters, forced proximity, and enemies to lovers dynamics, this story delivers."
— ARC Reader, Goodreads
Marketing Plan
AUTHOR PLATFORM & REACH:
- Instagram: @donaldquill [X followers] - Active romantasy content
- TikTok: @donaldquill [X followers] - BookTok presence
- Email list: [X subscribers] - Weekly updates to engaged readers
- Website: donaldquill.com and forgottenritespublishing.com
- Renaissance Faire circuit presence (Mid-Atlantic region)
LAUNCH STRATEGY:
- Official launch: May 1, 2026
- Pre-launch ARC campaign: 50+ advance readers (March-April 2026)
- Targeted social media campaign across Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook
- Email marketing to subscribers
- In-person events:
- Sree Fairy Renaissance Festival (April 25, 2026)
- Cape May Renaissance Faire (May 2-3, 2026)
- Ongoing Mid-Atlantic Renaissance Faire circuit appearances
- Paid advertising: Amazon Ads, Facebook Ads (May launch window)
- Cross-promotion with fantasy/romantasy reader communities
SERIES POTENTIAL:
Blade & Bone is Book 1 in the Oaths of Steel and Shadow series.
Book 2 (Iron & Ash) is already in development. Readers who love
this world will have more books to anticipate.
TARGET AUDIENCE:
Fans of Sarah J. Maas (ACOTAR), Jennifer L. Armentrout (From Blood
and Ash), Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing), and Tricia Levenseller
(The Shadows Between Us). Ideal for adult romantasy readers who
love soul bonds, Viking/Norse mythology, enemies-to-lovers romance,
and emotionally complex heroes.
WHY REVIEWERS SHOULD REQUEST:
- Fresh take on Viking fantasy (not the usual fae/dragon settings)
- Authentic Norse mythology from author with 30+ years of pagan practice
- Strong female MC and morally complex male lead
- Soul bond romance that feels earned
- Perfect for current romantasy market trends
- Debut author building platform - early reviews have major impact
- Event-exclusive hardcover edition creates unique marketing opportunity
AUTHOR BIO HIGHLIGHTS:
D.R. Quill is an Irish Pagan priest with 30+ years of practice and
the author of multiple published works including the Songs of the
Crowmother fantasy trilogy. This is his debut adult romantasy,
combining his deep knowledge of Celtic/Norse spirituality with
epic romance storytelling.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9213144789869 |
| PRICE | $4.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 377 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Views expressed in promotions/advertisements do not necessarily reflect those of NetGalley or its affiliates.
© 2026 NetGalley LLC
• All Rights Reserved
Views expressed in promotions/advertisements do not necessarily reflect those of NetGalley or its affiliates.