This book was incredibly entertaining, and it was perfect as my last read of the year!

The beloved tropes of fated mates found family and world-saving heroes come to life in Sera Foxe's unique voice. I encountered that feeling of wonder brought on by other fantasy series I love, but with a refreshing setting. Although at times I thought I could foresee the major twists, the resolution remained satisfying, and I want to continue on this journey in the next books.

My only caveat is that it took me a little while to connect with the main characters at first, but once I did, they were so much fun to get to know. Less significant was the narrative style, which was difficult to follow at times. However, as I became more invested in the characters and eager to explore the world with them, this issue took the backseat, and the story came to life for me.

The romance is one of my favorites I have read this year, too. Without saying too much, Cillian had my heart one paragraph after meeting him. I have to commend the character development, with this being the first book in the series, I do not want to pick favorites prematurely, but I will them in the back of my mind and see where the story takes them next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sera Foxe for the opportunity to read this lovely story before it is shared with the world.

This was a strong start to the Lightbringers series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed in this type of book. It uses the concept and genre perfectly and was glad it had that world that I was looking for. The characters had that feel that I was hoping for and was glad I was able to read this. Sera Foxe has a strong writing style and am excited for more.

ARC Review of Blood Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe
* * * * *
For all you lovers of fantasy and fae romance with a twist of fated mates, destiny and magic.

Aurelia was a nobody from nowhere, knowing she was in the wrong time and place even without evidence...but in her dreams, in this other place, she cannot but help be called to it.
We start off in a nightmare filled with screams and blood, a man who she always sees trying to pull her out of it.
Soon, her dreams become real, as the world of fae and magic come for her.

Not one for fae romance, but this was not too bad! A mellow read even with all the action.
The romance was a little hard to follow with all the information and changing POVs as it was all in third person with no section intro per change of setting.

Okay, so I just finished "Blood, Iron, and Bone," and I gotta tell you guys, it was a TRIP. I really enjoyed it, but fair warning, it's definitely not for everyone. This book has SIX different points of view. Like, seriously, six. It took, I swear, 90% of my brainpower just to keep track of who was talking at any given moment. It was kind of like a mental workout, which I actually found super refreshing, but I also think it could’ve been a tad smoother. Sometimes I was like, “Wait, whose head are we in again?!”

But honestly, that was part of the fun. It was like solving a giant puzzle, and the payoff was worth it. It’s crazy because the whole book basically covers just a few days! The pacing was generally great, although there were a couple of times where I felt like it got a little sidetracked, but it didn't happen often enough to be annoying.

Also, for anyone who’s into that kind of thing (GUILTY), there are fated mates in this book, but the romance isn't the main focus at all. It’s more like a subplot. I was way more invested in figuring out all the different pieces of the story that the author was throwing at me. It was like a giant mystery box unfolding, and I was hooked.

There isn’t a lot of magic in this book, but I can tell it’s being set up to be explained in the next book for sure..and I can’t wait!!

Overall, I’d give it four stars. It was a really unique read, and even though keeping track of all the POVs was a bit of a challenge, it made the whole experience more engaging. If you’re looking for something that’ll really make you think, love fantasy books with fae and good world building, definitely check it out. But if you're looking for a light and fluffy read not requiring a lot of brain power, maybe skip this one

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5


Read if you like:
✨ Fated Mates
✨ Fae x Human
✨ Multiple POVs (6)
✨ Animal guardian
✨ Found Family (the start of it)
✨ A bit of explicit romance
✨ World Building
✨ Magic

**Thank you NetGalley and Sera Foxe for the eARC. All opinions are my own and are completely voluntary.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes: Fated mates, found family, fae and humans, prophecy, chosen one, plot twists, betrayal.

This book took me off guard a little bit, just in the way it was written (third person) and it was really heavy on the description and prose. It was a different pace than I have been used to. I had no problem with the various POV's and it's actually something that I prefer. The pacing of this book was slow, there's so much world building and flashbacks are used to flesh out the MC's. So, there's a whole lot of information and very little plot moving in the first 60% of the book. It is an interesting story but it's a lot to wrap your head around. I enjoyed it once I got into it, the story itself is sound and there's so much room for development.
The world building is good but to really delve into the Celtic mythology mentioned, the word count would need to be higher. The world building was good but the explanation of the lore/mythology of it was a bit superficial in places.
The prophecy is the main plot driver here, if the characters don't fulfill it, then the fae world will be cast into darkness forever. It is very important to note that not all is what it seems. There are so many little nuggets and hints that point you in a certain direction and it's so frustrating when you get to an important part and the characters take the stance of, 'it can wait, do this first', or 'let's ignore that hand out which would give us some answers. Instead, I think we should run off together and do something else that we think is important but the reader knows that we are absolutely wandering off the path of real answers'. WHY CAN NO ONE JUST TAKE THE TIME TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AND ACTUALLY LISTEN??? This is a common theme in many books and it's one of my pet hates.
The characters were actually pretty cool. Aurelia appears one night and talks mortal world slang, ruining the vibe and calling BS on everyone. It was a little annoying how she didn't struggle at all with the transition but I can let it slide.
Nova is a human servant and I NEED TO KNOW MORE!!!! She broke my heart a few times before I reached the end of this book.
Aife was the most fun and the only half kind of relief to a very tense story. I would love to follow her story more.
Cillian seemed like a good sort and I have my suspicions about his origins, but maybe that would be just too convenient.
Lark is a complete wet blanket, but how could she not be? Raised isolated in a tower like rapunzel and only every allowed out when she was to be shown off or people needed to be reminded of the prophecy, it's not a bit wonder that she's all doom and gloom. I want to see her find her freedom, spread her wings and find out who she really is.
Andar. I had the biggest problem with him. He was just so flat and corny. There is a little bit of angst in him but he's arrogant, stupid and not the strong MMC that I'm used to. There's no real banter between him and his fated, it's all waxed lyrical poetry and lovey dovey stuff, which is fine, but I like a bit of fun with my steam/spice.
Speaking of steam/spice/romance... For a story that's all about love and fate, it just didn't hit home for me. I didn't feel it and there was something missing between them. Nova and Cillian's not really a thing was more believable and I would've preferred their love story There was a bit of wanting, some attraction and then really soft and flowery description when it did come to fruition.
There's a lot to unpack in regards to the mythology of the story and if you aren't familiar with Celtic mythology then be prepared to be left scratching your head for a while.
This story can go so much further, I'm impatient and wanted more to happen in this installment but I suppose I'll just have to wait until the next one.

3.2 stars!!
Thank you to Sera Foxe, NetGalley, and Agency Press for this ARC!!
This is my first ever ARC! Super exciting, and this was a pretty good read!
I was interested in the plot of the story, especially for the Fae land (Aithrim) and I thought the twins aspect was a good and fun twist. I loved the prophecy for each person too, amazing concept.
I didn't really connect to the characters as much as I would've liked. I loved Nova, and I enjoyed Lark's perspective, but Andar and Aurelia weren't interesting to me. Cillian was fine lol
As for Aurelia, I feel like she had no likable character traits. I know her story is supposed to be sad, and for her to be a little edgy, but personally, her having no hobbies or traits, or even a job, made me not like her very much. I understand her story but she needed substance other than her love for Andar. I also didn't love the modern slang, although it makes some sense why it's included.
I did love Aurelia's protectiveness over her cat though
The story overall was engaging and interesting, even with the foreshadowing from the prologue. I liked how all of the characters meshed together, and became an unlikely group of "friends" or at least people they can rely on.
I felt bad for Lark, especially since she was working toward her goal, which eventually went a different direction so that Aurelia could marry Andar. Their love was super forced, but it's nice that it will make Lark's love story a bit more real.
Also, I loved the twist in realizing Nova was supposed to be Aurelia, and it was because of Andar's mother that it was all swapped around. Super good honestly.
Overall, a fun read and I'm looking forward to the sequel! :)

Read if you've ever imagined: your pet as your familiar, an alley in your neighborhood as a portal to another world, or yourself as a secret witch, wizard, princess, or fairy.

Aurelia Bartlett, a human whose life is steeped in normalcy, yearns for something extraordinary. Andar, a fae warrior destined to marry fae princess Lark and save his world from darkness, seeks a love free from obligation. Lark, trapped in a tower for her safety until the prophecy is fulfilled, desires freedom.

I really wanted to love this book, but I only liked it. It starts off a bit slowly (it took me a few tries to get into the story), with the plot really picking up around the 50% mark. My main issue is that it follows too many characters, flipping between about six points of view by the end of the story. The novel is somewhat too short to accommodate this, and it caused me not to engage with any of the six. The perspective swapping is rapid, giving a sense of character whiplash. I did finish the book wanting to know what happens next, and I will continue with the series hoping that the characters will develop over time. I hope Aife appears more in Book 2!

Rating: 2.5

3 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


This story unfortunately was not for me. The writing style was a bit different…. But it was the multiple POVs that sold it for me as a difficult read.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!

First thanks to NetGalley and agency press for giving me a chance to read this arc! First thing I love about this book it has a glossary! I also think when world building in a new series things sometimes tend to get lost and having this is a great refresher. Okay now about the book Andar my man you are a dreamy one!!!! This book did such a great job weaving in and out multiple povs and keeping you invested in them all. Now with all of the multiple povs it does get a bit tricky keeping the storylines with each in order, so make sure you aren’t too tired heheheh. This is a book that you should know going into it super heavy on the details and if that bugs you this might be a harder read for you for sure. I think it did a great job keeping you interested in the mystery of the story and I can’t wait to read book two to dive further into that.

This story follows Lark and Andmar, the subjects of a prophecy destined to save their land, and Aurelia, a human girl who has strange dreams of the Faerish land.
I love the characters in this story, Andar, Lark and Aurelia were well developed with solid back stories and I could see why they acted the way they did. The supporting characters were just as enjoyable as the main characters and I found myself eager to continue their stories as well. There were a few good little twists that left me confused about where the story might be heading next.
The plot felt a little draggy at the start, the first half of the book felt like it could have been a bit more condensed as not a lot happened other than setting the scene for future events, and it felt like this could have been done a little more efficiently.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and will be checking out the next instalment once it is released. Thank you to Sera Foxe for providing an ARC for me to read and review.

4.5 ⭐️ I was hooked right from the prologue. The book starts off with an impressively interesting nightmare from one of our main characters, Aurelie. The scene itself had my mind spinning with so many theories and questions. I couldn’t help but dive right in after that.

This book gave me fairytale vibes throughout. We are slowly introduced to the characters which include an immediate back story for most of them before slowly finding out how they’re all connected. As someone who gets a little confused when there are a lot main characters, this was written in such a way that made it very easy to digest. Also thank you for the glossary in the back which was a huge help as well.

I love that Aurelie has a cat who is a kind of a sidekick. Not a main character but still important. There is definitely more to be said regarding Grey that I’m sure we will learn about in a future book.

I feel so lucky to have found this book. I hadn’t heard of it or the author but the cover art and title snagged me as something I might read and enjoy. Thank you for the ARC copy but now I have no one to talk to about this book. Was the last line actually a hint at a plot twist or am I thinking too much into it?

Sera Foxe’s Blood, Iron & Bone is an enthralling fantasy debut that grips readers from the first page and doesn’t let go. As the first book in The Lightbringers series, it delivers a darkly magical world brimming with high stakes, morally complex characters, and spellbinding intrigue.

The story follows Carys, a warrior haunted by a tragic past and tasked with protecting her fractured kingdom. Amidst brewing war and a prophecy that ties her fate to ancient forces, Carys must navigate political machinations, forbidden magic, and uneasy alliances. Her journey is not just one of survival but of self-discovery, and Foxe deftly balances her personal struggles with the epic scale of the narrative.

Foxe’s worldbuilding is extraordinary, immersing readers in a rich tapestry of warring factions, ancient ruins, and magical lore. The prose is lyrical without being overwrought, vividly bringing to life the dangers and beauty of this unforgiving world. The inclusion of elemental magic, tied intricately to the bloodlines of the characters, adds a unique twist that keeps the fantasy fresh and engaging.

What truly sets Blood, Iron & Bone apart, however, is its characters. Carys is a compelling protagonist—flawed, determined, and deeply human. The supporting cast, including the enigmatic mage Alaric and the morally ambiguous rebel leader Kael, add layers of tension and intrigue. The romance, while slow-burn and understated, adds emotional depth without overshadowing the plot.

The only critique I have is that some secondary characters and subplots feel underdeveloped, leaving questions that may be addressed in future instalments. But that also just means I can’t wait for these future instalments!

With its fast-paced action, heartfelt character arcs, and a gripping finale that sets the stage for more, Blood, Iron & Bone is a must-read for fans of gritty, character-driven fantasy. Foxe proves herself a master storyteller, and this series promises to be unforgettable.

It’s an easy 4.5/5 stars for me!

This review will be shared on instagram (@kezzie87 and @kerryreadsbooks_) in late December 2024/early January 2025.

Thank you Netgalley for approving me this e-book! I appreciate being able to receive this arc. This does not come out until March 21st, 2025.

This was definitely different! I gave this book a ⭐️4 Star ⭐️ only because I found the world building interesting and dramatic which kept me going on reading this 😅

I see a lot of potential here with this author and her writing style is different which I can see why others could struggle most throughout the book. It’s very slow paced and I couldn’t get into it until like 75% of the book.

This story is in 3 person that is introduced with multiple characters early in the beginning. Not going to lie I had a hard time with the beginning of this book as it was hard to keep up figuring who was who and their stories and it just kept jumping back and forth past/present which through me off because I felt like we kept missing the plot.

The world building is nice and I enjoyed the fated mates aspect. Aurelia was my favorite I did enjoy her story as I felt like we got more action from her POV. I wish we had more of that from the other characters and I think I would have enjoyed the story a bit more. I think this book (series) can do well with an audio to help understand the story more and characters? I just felt like too much was happening in the beginning like a roller coaster and got me distracted.

If the author plans for an audio for this book I would consider reading this again. This is a series of 3 books fyi and I would read book 2. I see a lot of potential here and I think it could go through some editing before it gets published in March!

Tropes:
✨Fated Mates
✨Fae Lore
✨Slow burn
✨Magic system
✨Human & Fae
✨Secrets

An EPIC fantasy tale that delves into parallel realms, family secrets, romance, deception & hard truths.

This book was everything to me. I truly felt myself trudging through the raw emotion of each character throughout the whole story.

I absolutely loved the touches of old fae lore.

There are so many things I could touch on.

I cried reading the heartache felt by Pan’s tragic end & Greymalkin’s hayloft beginning.

My heart was pounding through this story. Would Aurelia & Andar connect with one another? Would Nova secure safety after saving “Lark’s” life? Was the prophecy altered or was it exactly how it was remembered?

My heart ached for Lark. Suffering and biding her time locked in her tower with one goal in sight. And now that it’s falling apart, she has to figure out what her purpose actually is. Everything she worked for, just gone.

My ode to Aife. The character I went from absolutely despising to loving. As a a magically powerful fae, everything about her actions screamed “I’m bored so let’s have some fun.” I hope to read more about her in the coming books!

Aurelia, Andar, Cillian, Nova, Maw, Lark, Alasdair, Aife, Octo, Padraig, Ciorraithe, I hope this isn’t the end.

I truly don’t know what I’m going to do with myself while waiting for the next book. Ugh so good!!!


Thank you Sera Foxe for allowing me to read this advanced copy. Thank you Netgalley for connecting me with these amazing authors.

I’m happy I requested to read this and even more grateful to be approved.

Aurelia, Lark and Andar are our core characters, but which I think is interesting is that we get 2 side character POVs along the way. We get a full picture of each character path, where they intertwine and also, many questions answered.

Aurelia is actually my favourite, shes openhearted and funny with a brash directness. I was a little worried at first how she would slot into the story, but it was pretty seamless even though the circumstances are chaotic.

I really enjoyed Lark’s willingness to be openminded and put sense before her own insecurities. I am eager to see what happens with Lark going forward.

This book wonderfully incorporates fantasy and romance with politics, fated mates and prophecies. I’m going to be not so patiently waiting on the next book.

Great world building, very intriguing characters and interesting plot so far. I really liked this one and can’t wait for the rest!

3.25 ⭐️

I had to use almost every brain cell I have to decipher this mystery box of fae fun!

There's a curse shrouding the fae world in constant cloud cover, and a prophecy of fated mates to bring back the light. BUT, that clock is almost out, which is where this story begins.

A spiderweb of sticky bits and pieces.

Hats off to the author for weaving 6....yes 6....character arcs into 1 storyline...via third person, omniscient narrator, I might add. Good luck keeping up because I sure couldn't until about the 50%-60% mark. If you want instant gratification, you won't find it here. This is a challenging read, but (for the most part) well built.

Loved all the different characters and their storylines. One of my favorite characters is Aife, but we don't get to see inside her head, even though she's giving major main character energy. Her powers are mind-blowing.

The multiple POVs did give me a bit of whiplash. Shifting between six character arcs, each with their own storylines, felt abrupt at times, disorienting me from the plot and unhooking me from the characters I was TRYING to get to know...it felt like I was following a group chat where everyone’s talking at once, and you can’t tell who’s typing or whose drama we’re focusing on anymore.

The book’s pacing was deliberate, leaning heavily into exposition and description, which gave it a storytelling feel (I could picture someone reading this to me...maybe this would be a good audio book?) but slowed the narrative momentum. It was prose-heavy, and seemed to prioritize detail and introspection over action. It's immersive, but lacked the energy of more action-driven storytelling.

The romance was...there. This is a story of Fated Mates, but I was so focused on keeping up with all the different characters and story points, frankly it just bled into everything else.

The world building was intricate and interesting. I was really impressed with this element. I plan to read book 2, but more to keep solving bits of this mystery rather than seeing where the romance goes.

Worth a read, just prepare to really FOCUS!

✔️ Fae + Humans
✔️ Multi POV (6)
✔️ Curses & Prophecies
✔️ Magic & Powers
✔️ Fated Mates
✔️ Intricate & Unique World Building
✔️ Explicit Content but Sparse (so, I'd say this is...steamy?)

*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC 💌

This book had grand sweeping world building - both in parallel worlds, family dynamics and a class hierarchy in the magical world. The start of the book did a great job of moving the story along but still kept the various threads separate, so the reader keeps trying to guess how things are going to come together. The middle got a bit slow - as things came together but seemed to drag with a bit of repetition until the big action packed finale at the end. I feel like the main story wrapped up, but there were so many of the other characters that fell away after they played a part in the main plot line - I wanted to know so much more about Nova and Cillian's fate and what happened to them, even if it was a partial epilogue.. hopefully we'll catch up with their adventure in the next book.

⭐⭐.25 | 2.25 stars rounded down

Thanks to NetGalley and Agency Press for the chance to read this book.

While this story has fantastic potential, it unfortunately wasn't for me. All the characters felt completely 2D, and I really struggled to feel anything but indifference toward any of them. The pacing was very inconsistent, and the book is written almost from all characters' POVs at once - both of which made it extremely difficult to follow.

The writing style is also not for me. I would have loved to see more "show" and less "tell."

Blood Iron & Bone is the first in the Lightbringer series, with book 1 releasing March 21st 2025.
This follows our fmc Aurelia who is living in the mortal realms and has never quite felt like she’s belonged. Our other fmc is Lark, a duty bound fae princess living in a world full of magic. Then there’s Andar, the mmc who is betrothed to Lark, but has always felt like there’s something odd about their connection. We follow these 3 along with plenty more characters, as they try to navigate a murder, an impending marriage and a prophecy that doesn’t seem quite right.
This was fun! The world building did take quite a while, but I’d say by the 30% mark the story started to take off. Initially I was thrown by the writing style, simply because I hadn’t read anything with this much pov jumping before, but once I was used to it I actually really enjoyed it. This felt like a really refreshing take on Fae - I really appreciated the different physical traits they were given.
Thanks to NetGalley, Agency Press, and Sera Foxe for allowing me this arc opportunity!