Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!

Here’s the fact: I love fantasy novels, but I’m not really big on romance. If I had a nickel for every time I tried reading something romance-focused and my eyes rolled all the way back into my head, I’d be a millionaire (or, at least, very well off). So what on earth am I doing reading a romantasy? Mainly: a) the romance is sapphic, and b) there’s a butch lesbian main character. So, I gave A Crimson Covenant a try, and despite some shortcomings (which I’ll detail in a bit), I’m really glad I did!

The story follows Lenora and Arché, a vampire and a werewolf who reluctantly team up and embark on a journey to save their people. What begins as a necessary alliance blossoms into something deeper, pushing both girls to drop their defenses and confront their fears.

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the romance part this much. It was chef’s kiss under every metric—a perfect slow burn that felt natural and sweet, full of respect for each other’s space and boundaries. Even the spicy scenes were handled refreshingly well.

The slow pacing allowed the story to build a believable, deep bond between Lenora and Arché, while also giving readers time to truly get to know them and understand the inner struggles they each faced. The author clearly poured a lot of care into creating two main characters who felt incredibly real—flawed and imperfect, but willing to grow and challenge themselves. There were quite a few scenes that made me tear up, especially on Arché’s side. I also really appreciated how sensitive topics like anxiety and depression (and mental health in general) were addressed. These themes were seamlessly integrated into the narrative and became an integral part of the girls’ personal journeys.

Now, what didn’t work for me: the fantasy aspects of the story and, more broadly, the plot outside Lenora and Arché’s alliance. I’ll admit I have a bias here—the fantasy stories I love tend to be complex, layered, deeply political, and heavy on symbolism and metaphor. I respect the author’s effort to deliver a story highlighting the senseless hatred toward entire communities (here, vampires and werewolves), but the execution felt too simplistic and lacking in nuance for my taste.

Characters were either clearly good or clearly bad, and the plot followed a linear path with no surprises, twists, or elevated stakes. For example, scenes like the Stag soldiers quickly accepting Arché’s story and offering their unconditional help felt somewhat unrealistic and pulled me out of the narrative.

The rescue storyline, which forms the core of the book, didn’t hold my interest as much as Lenora and Arché’s relationship. This was likely because I had plenty of time to grow attached to the protagonists, but nearly none to invest in the characters they were trying to save. The worldbuilding also felt shallow, with locations that lacked distinctive features (naming every tavern isn’t enough!).

Ultimately, I think A Crimson Covenant suffers from an imbalance between its romantic and fantasy elements. That said, the romance was an absolute joy to read, and I’d love to see Aimee Donnellan continue writing, especially since she has a clear talent for crafting (queer!) character relationships and development. With a richer worldbuilding and deeper fantasy elements, I think she could create something truly next-level.

First, thank you, Aimee, for allowing me to read this ARC copy through NetGalley. I have never had the opportunity to read and review a nonpublished book, so I was very excited to receive this copy. It took me about four days to read this book, so I’m telling you I was hooked from the start.

Some pros of the book: I admire the portrayal of Arche’s (werewolf/lycan) and Lenora’s (Vampire) mental health and personal conflicts. The pressure of being the heirs to their respected house and losing their partners, along with being away from home after experiencing traumatic events is amazingly depicted. Some parts of the book had me kicking my feet in secondhand embarrassment, and other parts had me giggling at the relationship between the werewolf and vampire.

Some cons of the book: I am not sure if it is just me, but when reading, there were times I had issues figuring out who was talking or who was fighting despite the chapters being in either Lenora’s or Arche’s point of view. Another con (personally) was the ending. I understand the concept and why it ended how it did, but for some reason, it feels incomplete, like the ending was abrupt and slightly random.

Again, these are my personal opinions. Don’t let my comments dissuade you from reading this book. Instead, I suggest you read Crimson Covenant for yourself, and then express your disagreement or agreement with my opinions.


Thank you, Aimee, for allowing me to read your book. I can’t wait for the other two in this trilogy to come out so we can see what happens next!

This book has SUCH a good hook; werewolf and vampire sapphics teaming up to save their families from a violent cult attack? SIGN ME UP.

I had mixed opinions overall. I felt the pacing was fantastic and I read it very quickly, but the dialogue often felt stiff and unnatural. I didn't get a strong sense of character from most of the cast despite the book covering some very interesting topics and emotions, and dynamics. I absolutely loved the demi rep though and will be checking out the rest of the books in this world!

this book was the perfect balance of high-stakes fantasy and romance for me. and sapphic bonus! arche and lenora were such fun and heartfelt characters to follow, and i was rooting for them the whole way both with their romance and their journey to save their community.

A Crimson Covenant by Aimee Donnellan is a beautiful Sapphic fantasy and is unlike any other werewolf/vampire story I have ever read. I loved the idea of a secret city where the two races worked cooperatively to build a unique society over the course of centuries. Of course a peaceful cooperative society might not make for the most interesting of books, but the arrival of a band of violent cultists who threaten to destroy the town as part of a religious war soon shakes things up. Traditionally the heirs of the founding families work together in teams of two, one vampire and one werewolf as they train to inherit the responsibilities of their parents. Each pair is closely bonded so when two of the heirs are killed in the attack, their partners must put aside their grief and learn to work together if they are to have any chance of saving their home and way of life.
Arche is the werewolf heir to the warden clan, and is struggling with the guilt of having started to resent her partner before he was killed, while Lenora, the vampire heir to the mage clan has lost the partner she had fallen in love with and will now have to work with the woman he had a crush on, and as if that was not enough she is also dealing with her destiny as a mysterious chosen one figure without having the power to back it up.
As the pair find themselves on the road and on the run they draw closer together and before long their chemistry is undeniable.
I enjoy quest style fantasies that take the reader on an adventure and this was no exception but what really made the book stand out for me was the characters , they were so compelling in their flaws as well as their strengths and seeing them grow and develop both individually and as a couple was a real highlight. It is rare to see mental health issues so well handled and I have to comment the author on this especially. If I had to find something to criticise, I think the pacing at times felt a little off, the book definitely opens dramatically but it does get a little repetitive in the middle which slows things down before the pace picks up again ahead of a very satisfying conclusion. In terms of lore and world building there is enough there threaded through the story for the reader to understand what is happening and I expect that those basics will be expanded upon as the series continues. There are some really well written spicy scenes , just so readers know to expect that going in. I really enjoyed my first taste of this author and look forward to continuing the series.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

This book was such an unexpected delight. There is very little I don’t like about it. I think this might be the most diverse cast of characters and dynamics in a book without feeling tokenized. The queer and mental health representation is truly so well done, and the natural diversity of Concord feels like a warm hug. I devoured this book in two days, mostly because I could not get Lenora and Arché out of my head. I simply got so immersed in this world that it was hard to leave. This book is dual POV, which I love so you can see the inner workings of each main characters minds. When things got spicy between our characters, the constant check ins with each other and reassurance is beautiful to see. This book also explores complex family dynamics with high expectations.

There is one part of the plot that brought me out of the book, as it doesn’t quite seem necessary or make sense. It had to do with how Lenora obtains her full power. I thought this subplot left me with many unanswered questions. Once I read this scene, I was left wondering “that’s it?” I wanted to know why they were stuck, why was there a traitor? Was this done on purpose, or an accident? I do think a sub plot involving Lenora’s journey to her full potential was necessary, I’m just not sure I would use this way.

Overall I am so excited to continue this series! This was my first Aimee Donnellan book, and I’m sure it won’t be my last.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 Stars

Stand Out - The casual diversity of the series

Thank you to @NetGalley and Victory Editing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review 💫

This is a book I took a little while to warm up to, but GOSH once it warmed up it was so good. The character complexity here - especially the reality of the way relationships developed - was so, so good. This is some of the best character work I've read all year, and a really good piece of dual-perspective writing.

I also loved the way queernormativity and mental health were presented in a fantasy world - I really liked the way the use/lack of use of specific terminology was handled alongside making it clear what individual characters were struggling with. I was not a huge fan of the way a nonbinary character was near-immediately killed off, but if you're okay with that then the rest of this novel is well worth your time.

It also worked wonderfully as the start of a series - the setup didn't detract from the narrative, but in the back third of the novel the world of the setting really expanded into something I'd be happy to read more of.

The only reason this isn't 5* for me is the comparatively weaker opening and occasionally clumsy writing/editing mistakes (the worst of which is the misgendering of a nonbinary character in the narration), the latter of which might not be reflected in the book when it's released. Otherwise, a really wonderful book and well worth picking up if you want to read a sapphic romantasy with a queernormative world and compelling character arcs.

The world that this author has created sucked me right in and didn't let me go. Aimee does a fantastic job at weaving this world, its vampire and werewolf systems, and the plot together so perfectly. I devoured this book so quickly.

Vampires, werewolves, spice? Sign me up! This is the first book of Aimee's I've ever read and I can confidently say it won't be my last! I enjoyed this book so much! The development between our two main characters was written so well that you can't help but love them both by the end of the book!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

3.5 rounded up

This romantasy involves a werewolf shifter and a vampire who are brought together after a horrific attack on their community. As their relationship develops, we learn about their world, its magic, and politics.

I found it to be a slow storyline until the last 15% or so. It does contain some spice between the main characters. It is the first book in the series; it seems like each novel will focus on different character pairings within the world.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy; all opinions are my own.

This book was a bit out of my comfort zone given I don't read much about vampires or werewolves. but I did quite enjoy it. The lore and worldbuilding were two of the strongest aspects of the book. I can't wait for the following books, and learn more about this world and community. I did love the idea of two characters that, although not enemies, either didn't give much thought to the other or too much were now forced to really see each other and couldn't help but fall for each other.

However, my biggest critique is the pace. While the romance was nicely paced and I couldn't stop smiling when they finally got together, everything felt almost too fast to keep up. I'm a fast reader and able to keep up with most books, but even then I felt like I had to go back and reread certain parts because so much had happened in just a few paragraphs. It also made it hard for me to really feel the danger and made some fights feel dull since they were over almost too quickly.

It was still an enjoyable book and I recommend this to people who enjoy high fantasy, vampires, lycans, sapphic romance, and strong worldbuilding.

I enjoyed the characters and how emotionally, they were as messed up as we all are inside. Just battling to find themselves and to believe in themselves.
The storyline as a whole was good it is an ok book to read.

I felt it lacked something. I wasn’t engaged and invested in what happened. I found it a bit boring at times and the use of “they” in reference with talking about a singular person confused me to start with and I re read a few times to fully grasp it was a persons pronouns and it didn’t make the reading smooth I felt.

I feel like this book could have been amazing, but for me, it wasn’t.

Thank you NetGallery and Aimee Donnellan for sending my this ARC edition of this book.

I liked the general storyline. Good main character relationship. Glad it wasn't instalove. Definitely not used to so much mental health matters and working through communication barriers representation. Side characters were just teasers, but would likely/hopefully get more in additional books. I understand that books are getting more progressive with they/them pronouns, but I was confused by Alta initially. I had some questions but it sets up nicely for a future book, so that's ok. I didn't know this would be using more of the British standard spelling... it makes me think there are spelling errors, even though I understand that's how it's supposed to be. All in all - ok, but not wowed. Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC opportunity.

cool book that I knew was gonna be very fun and definitely delivered. i love awesome LGBTQ romantasies and this one delivered. Cheers. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

I think this was a subpar romantasy. I think it has a good basic plot / interesting characters, but I think the author needed more time to develop and edit this book before publishing it. I did not particularly like it, and felt it had a very amateur style writing to it. I would have loved this book to have a richer narrative and to have been more interesting, because we need more queer romances! But unfortunately this romance novel fell flat for me. I hope the author has a better change on their second book!

Oh this was a lot of fun! I haven't had the best luck with fantasy romances or with sapphic fiction despite wanting to find something that I loved. But this was pleasantly surprising. Donnellan created a world that felt full and characters that were well-rounded, each with their own personal struggles that realistically affected their circumstances. I am curious to read more from this author!

🌙 A Crimson Covenant by Aimee Donnellan has officially made me a romantasy addict! This debut captivated me with the unforgettable journey of Arche and Lenora, who, as heirs to their respective werewolf and vampire houses in Concord, face a brutal, dark, and magical upheaval. The peace of their town, a sanctuary for nightwalkers, shatters when Crusaders invade, forcing them to escape together and embark on an epic journey to save their people. Despite the tragedy, they find moments of pure joy and undeniable connection that make the story feel intensely alive and emotional.
Arche, a fierce yet gentle protector grappling with anxiety and imposter syndrome, melted my heart. Her dynamic with Lenora—who initially has a grudge against her but grows to trust her—is as tender as it is exhilarating. Their mutual respect and unwavering support turn them into a powerful force, navigating their trials with courage and healthy communication (and yes, the spice is off the charts! 🌶️). The representation in this novel is refreshing; queer identities are seamlessly woven into the world, with no need for explanations or "coming out." Aimee’s world-building was masterful, filled with rich, diverse characters, each existing unapologetically as themselves. This book stole my heart and soul—I’m beyond grateful to have read it, and I can’t wait for everyone else to experience its magic! 💫 #ACrimsonCovenant #SapphicRomantasy #QueerRomance #WerewolvesAndVampires

A Crimson Covenant by Aimee Donnellan
Book 1 in the Nightwalkers of Concord series
Rating: 5/5 🌟

Summary:
The vampires and werewolves of the town of Concord have for centuries worked to keep their home secret and safe. With the heirs of the founding houses paired from a young age to train together and complement each other, life is almost ideal. However:

Arche, lycan heir to the Warden Clan, is beginning to resent her best friend and partner, and can’t tell anyone.

Lenora, the vampiric heir to the House of the Arcane, is struggling with the expectations of an additional destiny she never wanted. Not to mention being in love with her partner, who is in love with someone else.

All of which matters much less when Concord is attacked by violent, vindictive cultists. In shock, on the run, and without the partners they’ve had for years, Arche and Lenora must venture far from home for the first time in search of something that will save their people. And, perhaps, consider that some partnerships are better forged in fire.

First Impressions:
I was pretty sure I’d enjoy this book before I even started, but I wasn’t prepared for just how much I’d fall in love with it! A Crimson Covenant exceeded my expectations in every way, from its layered worldbuilding to its compelling characters. The mix of fantasy, romance, and adventure had me hooked, and I was swept up in every twist and turn.

Characters:
The characters are the beating heart of this story, and both main characters, Lenora and Arche, absolutely stole my heart. They’re both fierce, capable, and complex, each facing their own inner struggles that make them feel relatable and real. I loved that, even with their strengths, they each have vulnerabilities and moments of self-doubt. Their journeys of growth—especially Lenora’s—are written with such authenticity that it’s hard not to root for them.

Lenora, in particular, won me over. There’s a purity to her character, a depth to her struggles, and a relatability in her moments of jealousy and frustration. Watching her discover herself, come into her own, and start seeing herself the way others do was one of my favorite parts of the book. And let me just say, after reading the dedication in the book, that feeling only grew!

Special shoutout to one of the new friends they make on their journey—a no-nonsense character who tells them exactly what they need to hear. We all need that friend who knows when to tell us to get over ourselves and push forward!

Romance:
The romance between Lenora and Arche is beautifully developed, with a slow burn that feels both natural and deeply rewarding. Through the dual POVs, we get to see their growing connection from both sides—the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) glances, the quiet moments, the heart-pounding and sometimes hilarious interactions that deepen their bond. Their relationship is layered with genuine warmth and tension, and their journey from partners to something more is both heartwarming and gut-punching in the best ways. The more romantic and spicy moments were perfectly woven in, complementing the characters' arcs without taking over the story.

World-Building:
The world of Concord felt truly lived-in, with its customs, rules, and a fascinating bond between vampires and werewolves. The magical elements were woven into the fabric of the world seamlessly, and I loved discovering its nuances alongside the characters. The town itself has a charm that contrasts well with the darker forces at play. My only small wish is to see more depth in the magic system’s rules and limitations in the next book, as I’m left wanting just a bit more of an understanding of how it all works.

Writing Style:
The writing style is engaging and accessible, making it easy to stay absorbed in the story. As a reader with dyslexia, I appreciated how smooth most of it was to follow, though there were a few spots where sentence phrasing made me reread for clarity. Those moments were rare, though, and overall, it was a well-paced, enjoyable read.

Final Thoughts:
This book was simply a joy from start to finish. The plot was gripping, the world was immersive, and the characters felt real and full of life. I found myself sneaking in chapters when I should have been working on my own writing because I just couldn’t put it down. There are still questions left unanswered and new mysteries waiting to be explored, and I can’t wait for the next installment. Spending more time with Lenora and Arche will be a delight, and I’m excited to see where their journey takes them next!

I will also get a physical copy of the book when it comes out!

I had the wonderful opportunity to read this book as an ARC reader through NetGalley, for which I want to express my gratitude! This review is my honest and voluntary opinion, and I am thrilled to share my thoughts.

This review is online on my Goodreads account (meltriestowriteastory) and will be put online on my TikTok with the same name on October 31 2024

Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The grip this book had on me! Truly in a CHOKEHOLD. I'm mostly a queer (sapphic, usually) romance/erotica reader, but have recently been getting more into fantasy/adventure alongside my home genres. This book really fit what I was looking for. Our two FMCs need to go on an adventure to save their town and in the process start to develop feelings for one another. 👀

Arché is a strong, masc-leaning lycan (werewolf) with ADHD and she can take me anywhere, at anytime, lol. When she got bit?? 😅🌶 Lenora is a thoughtful, femme demisexual vampire who is going through it. I loved watching Lenora gain her confidence, and Arché learning to let others help. I LOVED the ADHD rep (as an ADHDer myself) and how that was represented in Arché. I adored the gentleness that both characters brought to Lenora's depression and demisexuality. These characters are handled with such deep care by the author; it was amazing to read.

I love a slow burn and I felt like there was considerable lead up to them actually getting together, which I'm a sucker for. I was promised a biting kink and for the first half of the book we really get to see that. My only qualm is, it feels like a tragic missed-opportunity to not bring back the biting when the characters finally get together physically. Similarly to when rope play is brought up at an importune time. I get that the characters need to save their town etc, HOWEVER, don't tease me like that and then not deliver! Perhaps it's because I read much more spicier books than this, but when we say BDSM or biting kink, I'm expecting a bit more. Though, I'm sure folks who like their romance with a lot of pining and pent up emotion, with 2 or 3 spicy scenes will not have the same peeves as me, lol.

I will be reading the rest of the series and can't wait! This was my first read from this author and I am a fan. Will be downloading their earlier series after I'm done writing this. Read this book if you want epic fantasy with unlikely heros trying to save their world, with forced proximity, slow burn, sapphic romance.

3.75 rounded up

A massive thank you to Victory Editing for letting me read this arc, I will be eagerly awaiting the second book.

The world building was so good, I loved the magic system and the fact that the two main characters shared very similar issues with their identity, yet dealt with them in completely different ways. I found that the two povs actually added a lot to the reading experience and I found it very interesting to see the very different thought processes that Lenora and Archié had to the same situations.

The only criticism I do have is that I wish there was a little more realism in the end battle. It felt a little too easy, this very commanding threat present throughout the entire book was brought down in the span of two chapters with no real casualties. I understand that part of this was to show the growth the two fmcs went through, but it still felt a little anticlimactic to end the book that way.

dnf'd at 11%... i'm sorry but this book just was not for me. i love fantasy, i love lesbians, i love a big handsome butch werewolf, so i was very excited to receive this ARC. unfortunately, it fell flat almost immediately. the prose is clinical and infodump-y, i really don't get a sense of character voice from either arché or lenora. i found myself zoning out trying to get invested into the plot and characters.

the concept is there, i can tell there was a lot of love put into the worldbuilding. i'm a very character-driven reader, so if you're more of a lore enjoyer then you will probably like this book more than i did.