Blood, Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe : Book review

First of all, I want to thank NetGalley and Agency Press for the early copy of Blood, Iron, and Bone by Sera Foxe. I’m still discovering my love for the romantasy genre, so when I saw this book, I was beyond excited to request a copy. I felt lucky to receive it and couldn’t wait to dive in!

At first, Blood, Iron, and Bone was a solid 4-star read, the premise was intriguing, and the story had potential. However, as I kept reading, my rating slowly started to drop. While there were some strong elements, certain aspects of the plot and character decisions became frustrating. And the ending? That was my last straw.

Summary of Blood, Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe

Aurelia, a mortal girl, hears a strange call in the night and is compelled to answer…

In another world, Andar, betrothed to the future High Queen of Áithrim, can’t understand why his supposed fated mate looks so right, but feels so wrong…

Duty, fate, blood iron and bone collide under a cursed sky…

In a kingdom on the precipice of the fulfillment or failure of its most famous prophecy, thrown together by fate and terrifying circumstance, a motley band of Fae and Human alike must come together for the good of the realm, even as the darkness that covers the land threatens to become permanent.

Review of Blood, Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe

I’m almost disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I hoped! The synopsis of Blood, Iron, and Bone made it clear that fulfilling the prophecy was the key to breaking the curse, yet even with that understanding, the ending completely upset me. I kept waiting for that satisfying resolution, but instead, I was left frustrated. Maybe that’s on me, I went in expecting something different, but I can’t shake the feeling that the story could have delivered so much more.

Plot Analysis of Blood, Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe

Aurelia, an ordinary mortal girl, is awakened by an eerie, unshakable call in the dead of night, one that tugs at something deep within her, compelling her to follow its haunting pull. She doesn’t know what awaits her on the other side, only that she must answer…

Meanwhile, in the mystical realm of Áithrim, Andar, a powerful warrior bound by duty, is set to marry the future High Queen. By all accounts, their union is destined, fated by forces beyond his control. Yet something about his betrothed unsettles him. She looks the part of his fated mate, but in his heart, something feels undeniably… wrong.

As the kingdom teeters on the edge of either fulfilling or failing its most ancient and revered prophecy, the threads of destiny weave an unlikely band of humans and Fae together. Drawn into a harrowing journey by forces beyond their understanding, they must navigate a world of treachery, sacrifice, and war, all under the ominous weight of a cursed sky.

With duty and fate colliding, and the very fabric of their realm at stake, one question remains, will they succeed in restoring balance before darkness claims Áithrim forever?

Characters of Blood, Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe

Aurelia: She is technically the main character of the book, if we can even call her that. Honestly, I just didn’t care about her that much. She had a few moments where she stood out, but overall, she felt underwhelming and didn’t leave much of an impact. Maybe that’s my biggest issue with the book, when the protagonist doesn’t fully draw you in, it’s hard to stay invested in the story.

Andar: Oh boy, don’t even get me started on his character! I didn’t like him one bit. This guy was supposedly raised to be a powerful warrior, but in reality? He was just being dragged around like a puppet. His mother manipulated him, his father ignored him, and he spent the entire book just going with the flow, never making any real decisions or leaving any meaningful impact. For someone who was supposed to be important, he sure felt like a background character in his own story.

Aurelia & Andar : The dynamic between Aurelia and Andar felt so insta-lovey. Their entire relationship was purely lust-driven, here’s really no other way to describe it. They fell for each other without actually knowing anything about one another, and then boom, they were suddenly in love. And not long after? They were already sleeping together. That was basically the extent of their bond, physical attraction without any real emotional depth. I understand that they were fated to be together, but honestly? Give me more. I wanted to see their connection develop, for them to truly know each other beyond just the physical attraction. Instead, it felt like their bond was just assumed rather than built, and that left me feeling disconnected from their relationship.

Lark: Out of all the characters, I feel like Lark had the most development in the book. I didn’t necessarily like her, but at least she had a clear arc, which is more than I can say for the others. She came across as cold and had a serious superiority complex, granted, she was raised to be that way, but it was just too much for my liking. Her attitude made it hard to connect with her, even though I could appreciate the effort put into her character growth.

Nova: Now, let’s talk about my favorite character, Nova, my sweet Nova. Honestly, I think she’s the unsung hero of this book. She was incredibly sweet, fiercely loyal to Lark, and always making smart, thoughtful decisions while everyone else seemed to just be standing around doing nothing. What frustrated me, though, is how she didn’t get enough credit for what she was doing, simply because of her status. Nova’s loyalty and intelligence should have made her a standout, but she was often overlooked, and that just didn’t sit right with me.

Cillian: Another favorite character of mine. He was so sweet to Nova, and honestly, he gave me BUTTERFLIES 🦋🦋🦋. I really wished we had focused more on him and his story throughout the book. He contributed to the plot in meaningful ways and had so many heroic moments that made me adore him even more. I liked him so much, and I really hope he and Nova get their own book in the future. Fingers crossed 🤞!

Pacing & writing style

I didn’t realize Blood, Iron and Bone was written by two authors until I was writing this review, and I was pleasantly surprised. While reading, I never felt that the book had been written by two different people. I have to applaud them for seamlessly handling six different POVs and the alternating between past and present. That’s no easy feat! My only issue with the writing is that six POVs might have been a bit too much, which led to some characters not being as developed as they could have been, and the main characters felt a bit flat as a result.

Another thing that was a little confusing was the way the book moved in and out of the past and present, it got a bit disorienting at times.

Also, I really wished there was more action in the book. (Potential Spoiler) Like, when Aurelia and Andar combine their powers and defeat the Adharcans, I was expecting a more detailed scene, but instead, we’re just told that they killed them, and that’s it. I think more focus on that action would have been more exciting, and honestly, if the time spent on the spicy scenes had been redirected toward more action, the book would have been much stronger in that aspect.

Finally, the world-building and magic system were exceptional. I really enjoyed reading about them. The world-building was definitely the strongest part of the book for me. You’re given a lot of background information and a deep dive into the ins and outs of the world, which really brought everything to life.

The pacing in Blood, Iron and Bone was a bit slow in the beginning, which made it a little hard to get fully immersed at first. However, as the story progressed, it picked up speed and managed to keep me engaged. I found myself wanting to know more and more about what was going to happen next. While the plot itself was somewhat predictable, the authors still managed to keep me hooked with their writing. Even though I could see some of the major plot points coming, I still wanted to stick around to see how everything would unfold.

Tropes and Trigger warnings of Blood, Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe

Tropes of Blood, Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe

• Multiple POVs (6)
• Fated Mates
• Fae x Human
• Curses and Prophecies
• Magic

Trigger warnings of Blood, Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe

• Violence
• Blood

Final Thought

First and foremost, I want to thank NetGalley and Agency Press for providing me with an early copy of Blood, Iron and Bone. As I’m still discovering my love for the romantasy genre, I was really excited to dive into this book. The premise was intriguing, and I had high hopes. While the book started off as a solid 4-star read, unfortunately, my enjoyment began to wane as I progressed. The plot’s potential was overshadowed by a few frustrating elements, and the ending, in particular, left me feeling disappointed.

Despite my initial excitement, Blood, Iron and Bone didn’t fully live up to its promise. The characters didn’t capture my attention as much as I hoped, and some of the dynamics, especially between Aurelia and Andar, felt rushed and lacked depth. The predictable plot kept me engaged at first, but it ultimately didn’t deliver the level of excitement or emotional payoff I was hoping for.

There were moments in the book where the world-building and magic were truly exceptional, and I found that to be the strongest aspect. The pacing also picked up as the story went on, but the lack of action and the flat character development left me wanting more. While I appreciate the creative world and the authors’ ability to juggle multiple POVs, the execution left something to be desired.

That said, I did enjoy many parts of the book, especially the magic system and the world-building. However, I was expecting more from the ending, which felt a bit underwhelming compared to what I had hoped for after such a strong build-up.

Also, I think I may know who Andar’s brother is, and if he’s the one I’m suspecting, I can’t wait for book two to dive deeper into his story!

Blood, Iron, and Bone has all the ingredients for an epic story, but in the end, it didn’t live up to its full potential for me. It’s a book with a lot of promise, but one that could have benefitted from deeper character development and a more focused plot. That said, if you’re a fan of fated mates, magic, and complex world-building, you might still enjoy this one, just be prepared for some disappointments along the way.

About the author

Practical Information for Readers

Blood, Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe Book Formats

Blood, Iron and Bone is available in various formats to suit every reader’s preference:

• Paperback: Ideal for readers who enjoy the tactile experience of holding a physical book.
• eBook: Convenient for on-the-go reading, available on all major e-reader platforms.
• Audiobook: Narrated with emotional depth, available on platforms like Audible.
• PDF Blood, Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe : While some may search for a PDF version, it’s recommended to opt for legal eBook options to support the author.

Where to find Blood, Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe PDF

1. Amazon Kindle: Offers a user-friendly interface with customizable reading settings.
2. Barnes & Noble Nook: Another popular platform with a wide selection of e-books.
3. Apple Books: Provides seamless integration with Apple devices and a smooth reading experience.

Blood, Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe Age Rating

I highly recommend Blood, Iron, and Bone for readers 18 and older due to its intense violence and explicit content. This book delves into dark themes, brutal conflicts, and mature situations that may not be suitable for younger audiences. If you enjoy gritty, high-stakes fantasy with morally complex characters and unfiltered action, this is definitely a must-read.