Rating: 8 out of 10
Spice Level: 3 out of 5
Cover: A
Audiobook Narration: Great Performance by Blair Dade & Kale Williams
Synopsis
In the alternate history romantasy novel Bloodsinger, Lela Bihari’s wedding night turns to tragedy when raiders slaughter her betrothed and sell her into Roman slavery. Purchased by a cruel consul named Valerius, Lela discovers she possesses a dangerous “bloodsinger” ability when she attempts to kill him; a power that earns her brutal punishment and public humiliation before the senate. Her fortunes shift when Trajan Tiberius, a newly elected tribune with hidden motives, frees her from bondage and conceals her within Rome’s walls. As dragon shifter warriors patrol the skies above and Lela’s supernatural abilities intensify, she pursues vengeance while questioning whether she can trust this Roman who seems different from the rest, especially as her heart becomes increasingly vulnerable to him.
Strengths
Heart-racing plot with genuine emotional depth. The prose flows effortlessly, drawing readers into a world filled with authentic historical details woven into fantasy. Characters undergo believable transformations. A truly immersive story; the pages turn themselves. Powerful and uplifting in the end.
Weakness
I’m easy. I’m here for the drama.
Verdict
Hooked me. I think this FMC was stronger than the first one. Firebird was fun, Bloodsinger is darker, in a good way. The characters have more to overcome, separately and together. Lela and Trajan's emotional connections are strong. You have no trouble understanding why she doesn’t trust him, at the same time understanding that he will never betray her. I couldn’t put it down. You will absolutely hate the diabolical characters and love the righteous ones, as one should. Where is my Roman God dragon shifter? I’m ready. Let’s burn it all down! I’m invested in this rebellion and ready for book 3. (8/10)
Tropes
Dragon Shifters
Enemies-to-Lovers
Hidden Power
Secret Rebellion
Vengeance Plot
Dystopian Alternate History
Slow-Burn Romance
Trigger Warnings
Enslavement
Self-Injury
Brutal Violence
Rape (on and off page)
Physical Punishment
Abuse of Power
Gore and Blood
Death and Grief
Thank you to Juliette Cross, Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Libro.fm. I received advance review copies for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Order Your Copy
Aber Stoat Books (print)
Bookshop.org (eBook)
Libro.fm (audiobook) 🎧
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From the Publisher:
Publisher: Bramble / Macmillan / Macmillan Audio
Series: The Fire That Binds (#2)
ISBN: 9781250339881 / 9781250435866
400 pages / 11 hours 17 minutes
Narrator(s): Blair Dade & Kale Williams
Fiction / Romance / Fantasy
Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy
Fiction / Fantasy / Dragons & Mythical Creatures
Description:
New York Times bestselling author Juliette Cross returns with a new scorching dark romantasy in her The Fire That Binds trilogy. The fate of a powerful witch who can control men with one taste of their blood and a fierce dragon collide.
A spellbinding gift...
A plea answered by the gods...
An unforgiving world where dragons rule Rome.
Lela Bihari’s village was invaded on her wedding night, her betrothed murdered right in front of her. While her sisters were either dragged away or escaped, Lela was sold to Valerius, a consul of Rome.
When she tried to kill Valerius her first night as his slave, her bloodsinger gift manifested… and she was punished for it. Now she’s paraded in front of the other senators for their amusement.
But Trajan Tiberius, the newly elected tribune to the senate, is different. He has no love for the brutality around him. When he frees Lela from enslavement and hides her, Lela is set on a path of vengeance, and using her gift puts her in more danger than ever before.
Now trapped inside the walls of Rome while deathriders circle the skies, how can she possibly trust a Roman dragon? Especially when it is clear Trajan has ulterior schemes of his own? As her powers grow stronger, danger draws closer, and Lela realizes it isn't just her life at stake, but also her heart.
Bloodsinger is an adult romantasy novel that contains dark themes, including slavery in Ancient Rome and self-injury, which may be uncomfortable for some readers.
Author Bio:
Juliette Cross is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy, paranormal and contemporary romance. She’s a mood reader as well as a mood writer if that wasn’t obvious by her eclectic book list. As a native of Louisiana, she is inspired by the moss-laden trees and slow-moving bayou of her home as well as the Gothic setting of nearby New Orleans. She loves lazy nights with her husband, old-fashioneds, and family gatherings.
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