An unpredictable vampire thriller with just enough action, romance, and politics to keep readers on the hook.
In Linde’s supernatural novel, a young woman narrowly escapes from her vampire captor only to discover worse trouble brewing as a new threat bears down on the human world.
This second book in the Blood Type series continues the story of Reyna Carpenter, a human living in a world largely run by vampires. She is held captive and forced to act as a personal blood bag by the sadistic William Harrington, president and CEO of Visage, a vampire-run company that pairs vampires with matching blood donors (AKA “blood escorts”). After being terrorized by another one of Harrington’s captives—a seemingly crazed vampire known only as “B”—Reyna is rescued by members of Elle, an underground rebel group intent upon taking down Visage once and for all. During her escape, Reyna insists on also rescuing Jodie, a young woman whose blood is used to create an antidote that prevents vampires from having to rely on blood matches (a “huge leap for vamp-kind”). Finally reunited with her vampire lover, Beckham Anderson, Reyna dives deeper into Elle’s mission…and unwittingly stumbles across a horrifying plot. Attempting to stop it will put those whom Reyna loves the most—including her brothers and Beckham himself—at risk. A twisty continuation of Reyna’s ill-fated adventures in blood-escorting and love, this novel leans into its political undertones as the underground rebel group also deals with a new mayor who may or may not have their best intentions in mind. While some readers may balk at yet another unabashed cliffhanger that essentially forces them to read the next book if they have any hope for a satisfying conclusion, Linde includes enough genuinely surprising twists (including the identity of B and the ending itself) to make the reading experience worthwhile. The confident prose, steamy vampire–human sex scenes, and a rebellion worth rooting for ultimately result in a compelling page-turner that will more than satisfy fans of the genre.
An unpredictable vampire thriller with just enough action, romance, and politics to keep readers on the hook.Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2025
ISBN: 9781649379726
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 8, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Though it falters a bit under its own weight, this series still has plenty of fight left.
In this long-awaited fifth installment of Shannon’s Bone Season series, the threat to the clairvoyant community spreads like a plague across Europe.
After extending her fight against the Republic of Scion to Paris, Paige Mahoney, leader of London’s clairvoyant underworld and a spy for the resistance movement, finds herself further outside her comfort zone when she wakes up in a foreign place with no recollection of getting there. More disturbing than her last definitive memory, in which her ally-turned-lover Arcturus seems to betray her, is that her dreamscape—the very soul of her clairvoyance—has been altered, as if there’s a veil shrouding both her memories and abilities. Paige manages to escape and learns she’s been missing and presumed dead for six months. Even more shocking is that she’s somehow outside of Scion’s borders, in the free world where clairvoyants are accepted citizens. She gets in touch with other resistance fighters and journeys to Italy to reconnect with the Domino Programme intelligence network. In stark contrast to the potential of life in the free world is the reality that Scion continues to stretch its influence, with Norway recently falling and Italy a likely next target. Paige is enlisted to discover how Scion is bending free-world political leaders to its will, but before Paige can commit to her mission, she has her own mystery to solve: Where in the world is Arcturus? Paige’s loyalty to Arcturus is tested as she decides how much to trust in their connection and how much information to reveal to the Domino Programme about the Rephaite—the race of immortals from the Netherworld, Arcturus’ people—and their connection to the founding of Scion, as well as the presence of clairvoyant abilities on Earth. While the book is impressively multilayered, the matter-of-fact way in which details from the past are sprinkled throughout will have readers constantly flipping to the glossary. As the series’ scope and the implications of the war against Scion expand, Shannon’s narrative style reads more action-thriller than fantasy. Paige’s powers as a dreamwalker are rarely used here, but when clairvoyance is at play, the story shines.
Though it falters a bit under its own weight, this series still has plenty of fight left.Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025
ISBN: 9781639733965
Page Count: 576
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.
A reluctant princess is thrust into deadly political intrigue in Perry’s sweeping, high-stakes romantasy.
Odessa is the overlooked and underestimated princess of Quentis, whose life takes an unexpected turn when a deal is struck between her father and the formidable Turan warriors force her into an arranged marriage with their enigmatic prince, Zavier Wolfe. Intended as a mere formality to secure trade routes and military alliances, the betrothal spirals into something far more dangerous when ancient magic, a ruthless Guardian, and a looming war threaten to upend everything she knows. Finally emerging from the shadow of her seemingly perfect half sister, Mae, Odessa must navigate court politics, monstrous creatures, and her own uncertain place in a world where survival often depends on strategy rather than strength. As tensions rise, she finds herself entangled with the dangerous, enigmatic Guardian—a man whose silver eyes hold secrets of their own. Perry’s worldbuilding is lush and immersive, crafting a kingdom rife with old magic, deadly beasts, and political machinations that add depth. The pacing is relentless, carrying Odessa from one life-altering event to another as she grapples with duty, defiance, and a destiny she never chose. Her internal conflict is compelling, torn between the expectations placed upon her and the fierce independence that threatens to make her an outcast in her own kingdom. Romance simmers as Odessa struggles to reconcile her obligations with her growing attraction to the Guardian, whose past is as shadowed as his reputation. Mae is introduced as Odessa’s political foil, and although her presence drives much of Odessa’s internal drama—being constantly overshadowed or underestimated—she’s mostly seen through Odessa’s perspective. Her motivations, ambitions, and political maneuverings might have benefited from deeper exploration to give more nuance to the power dynamics. However, Perry’s evocative prose and intricate plotting make for a gripping tale. Readers looking for a slow-burn romantasy with rich political intrigue and a protagonist forced to create her own fate will find much to enjoy.
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9781649378514
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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