Back of Book: 

HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING TO GO TO KEEP YOUR SECRETS?

After years of living as a lady in the Givensmir court, a life of luxury and opulence, Eve's past has slowly come back to haunt her. One of secrets and magic that courses through her veins, thought to have been long forgotten.

Now, a princess lies mysteriously dead before her in the great hall.

The eyes of the duplicitous court are everywhere.

And there is nowhere left to hide.

In a realm known for its witch hunts and the ongoing conflict with the Blackthorn, the kingdom of witchcraft across the treacherous Dallise Sea, Eve now finds herself on the wrong side of this war.

And the time to escape is running out.

Book Number: One

Genre: Adult | Fantasy | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

A young noblewoman is put under scrutiny after several mysterious events get pinned on the witchy magic that ran in her mother’s veins. 

After her mother’s death, Eve was accepted into the castle as the king’s ward. After years of serving as a noblewoman, the power in Eve’s veins begins to surface. Fearful that she will be burnt at the stake, Eve tries her hardest to conceal her powers. When magical events that have nothing to do with her start occurring, Eve knows that her life is in danger. 

This is another book I checked out in preparation for Midwest Bookish Fest 2027. I listened to this one on Hoopla, and figured I’d enjoy this witchy read during spooky season. 

One thing that stood out to me about this one is how there are quite a few PoVs, but they actually all made sense. Eve and Theo are our two main characters, but it also follows Decon, Clarisa, and the princess as well. It takes a bit to understand why some of these characters are relevant to the main plot, but I never felt severely bored during a single character’s PoV. 

This one is a nice blend of court politics, forbidden romance, gothic/medieval vibes, and witchy magic. I thought that all of these elements were put together nicely to form a coherent story that was easy to follow and has me intrigued to see where it would go. I feel this first installment is a little heavy on the lore dumping and was a tad predictable, but I think that it laid a nice foundation for the rest of this trilogy to build upon. 

Character-wise, I really pitied Eve at times. She is in love with Theo, a prince that she can never have. Her mother and sister were killed for being witches, and she is one wrong move away from meeting the same fate. The nobles around her pretend to be her ally, but it’s easy to tell that they just deal with her because the king says so. Theo also seems sweet, and I hope that these two eventually end up together. Though there is a bit of a love triangle situation going on as Eve is also close with this guy name Callum, that I know little about. Decon soon came to be my favorite, as he is a stable boy who accidentally rises up to become the king’s personal fool. He also is crushing heavily on the princess which is sweet, but also super forbidden. 

Overall, “The Blood of the Blackthorn” was an interesting start to a dark romantasy series. Court politics really take center stage, but I never found myself bored or confused. I think the magic will play more of a part in book two, which will certainly help ramp up the action. The romance should also come more to fruition; I guess we’ll see if any of these characters can overcome the rules and find happiness with their forbidden loves. I personally didn’t think this one was overly unique, but I thought it accomplished worldbuilding quite well and got me to care about all of the characters present. Hopefully I get the chance to read the rest of this series at some point, but I don’t think I’d be heartbroken if I never continued it either. 

Audiobook Note: This one was narrated by Hel and Zack Rosenfeld. This one was done in a duet style, which always adds a little extra sparkle. I think that Hel has such a pretty accent they do for many of their characters. Zack also did a fine job, but their performance was just less memorable to me. I would certainly keep listening to this series on audio if given the chance!

Back of Book: 

How Far Would You Go To Save the Ones You Love?

There is a darkness encroaching the lands of Serit. From the Givensmir kingdoms to the Blackthorn coven, bitter rivalries threaten the lives of magic and mortalkind alike.

With the truth of her mother’s demise fresh in her heart, Eve has fled her life of comfort to escape the clutches of Givensmir’s new and vengeful king. Stowing away on a pirate ship bound for destinations unknown, Eve and her familiars must place their trust in its captain. A man with a dark past and a proclivity for secrets.

But no matter how far she runs, the Blood of the Blackthorn continues to haunt her dreams, beckoning her to fulfill its fatal prophecy, and soon Eve is forced to choose her fate.

To risk the lives of those she loves or let the magic consume her.

Book Number: Two

Genre: Adult | Fantasy | Romance 

Review: ? 

Back of Book: 

How Far Would You Go To Break a Curse?

Death. Eve can feel it in the frigid, icy air of the Unclaimed Wastes. She can see it in the treacherous blue eyes of a creature once believed to be myth. She can hear it echoing in the soul she had given to the grimoire for the promise of safety.

But soon, Eve realizes that one should never trust what is cursed. And now there are other terrors that loom before her. Ones of legends and lore, nightmares and tales as old as the Blood of the Blackthorn itself.

As the fallen goddess wakes from her centuries long slumber, the world of mortals and magic is rife with the wrath of her vengeance. The Age of Witchcraft has returned and with it a war that threatens all.

Book Number: Three (Last Book) 

Genre: Adult | Fantasy | Romance 

Review: ?