This First Line Friday features THE DANGEROUS ONES by @laurenblackwoodwrites! The sky was pitch, and my tears blinding, so outrunning them hounds was tricky. For more, visit: https://melanininya.com/lauren-blackwood #MelanininYA #FirstLineFridays #FridayReads #LaurenBlackwood #YALit #YAFantasy
✨The Dangerous Ones ✨ I’m not usually a huge civil war gal, but the vampires part reeled me in. I’m so glad I tried it. The story revolves around slavery, fighting to end it, and revenge the wrongs done to the MCs during enslavement. This was a very mild fantasy, with almost no world-building, just fantasy creatures. If you love historical fiction and want to branch out to fantasy, this is a great choice! My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Big thanks to @wednesdaybooks and @laurenblackwoodwrites for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Hello, fellow nerds! Remember our ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review of The Dangerous Ones last week )swipe of not)? Well we’ve got Lauren Blackwood, the author of this awesome book on the podcast this week! Check out the interview at the (103:20) mark of yesterday’s Epic Adventure Reads episode! Lauren Blackwood is a Jamaican American living in Virginia who writes Romance-heavy Fantasy for most ages. When not writing, she’s a musician and a tiramisu connoisseur. Her debut YA Fantasy Within These Wicked Walls is a New York Times Bestseller and the Reese’s Book club Fall 2021 YA Pick. Listen in as we chat more about Lauren’s books, being chosen for Reese’s Book Club, and her upcoming projects. Be sure to follow her @laurenblackwoodwrites Upcoming Read Along Schedule: Crescent City: House of Flame and Shadow -May 23: Ch 16-23 -May 30: Ch 24-35 -June 6th: No episode -June 13: Ch 36-44 Join our instagram channel for even more in depth nerdiness! Catch up on previous seasons of the show by visiting ournerdiestthing.com or by searching for Our Nerdiest Thing wherever you listen to podcasts. Have something nerdy to share? Message us! #ournerdiestthing #authorinterview #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #paranormalfantasy #vampires
#QOTD: If caught in a war and paranormal creatures were real, who or what would you want to be fighting alongside you or what are you reading today? The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood Pub: 5/14/24 I've been a fan of Lauren Blackwood since Within These Wicked Walls. I finished her latest, The Dangerous Ones, not too long ago. The book has a great premise with vampires fighting in the US Civil War, many of whom appear to be on the side of the Confederacy. The Dangerous Ones has one of the best openings as Jerusalem is being chased by a son of the family who enslaved her. Jerusalem's escape gives way to a time jump with her now fighting in the Civil War and her status as a Saint, essentially a vampire hunter. She now fights with the Union along with other Saints and a vampire named Alexei who she does not want to be attracted to (but she is). It started off great and was full of promise, but it focused a bit too much on the romance. Despite the attraction being a preexisting one, it still felt very much like instalove. I was still trying to figure out what was going on when the romance was thrown in. Jerusalem is a frustrating character. I both liked and didn't like her at times. Her angry, which is justified, drives her, but she allows it to lead her to make decisions that are not very smart. She is often unable to think beyond her bloodlust and revenge. I would not have minded less of Alexei and more or all of the book just about Jerusalem to allow her greater character development, especially giving her an opportunity to better wield her anger. I was also disappointed because I hoped for more history to be integrated and a lot more fighting, especially with Jerusalem kicking butt and finally seeking vengeance. While I liked the premise and parts of the book, it did not meet all my expectations. Individuals who like alternate histories and paranormal romances may want to pick this up. **I received a copy of the book through NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.** #LaurenBlackwood #TheDangerousOnes #ParanormalRomance #DiverseReads #AsianBookstagrammer #HmongBookstagrammer #APIBookstagram #BookReview #YACommunity
The Dangerous Ones! #tbr #goodreads #read #laurenblackwood
✨ I did not realize that this book is a “Jane Eyre retelling.” I haven’t read Jane Eyre so I cannot comment on if this was a good retelling or a bad one. Our fmc is Andromeda, an exorcist or debtera, trained to cleanse cursed households afflicted with the evil eye. She is hired by an enigmatic heir named Magnus Rochester, to rid his decaying estate of malevolent forces. 😱 But the castle harbors a sinister power unlike anything she’s ever faced and the job proves to be much harder than she originally thought.🏰 I really loved the spooky atmosphere and the eerie castle. And honestly, the inhabitants are the best part of the book. Magnus was funny and snarky and totally oblivious but in a charming way. His banter is top-notch, and he definitely made the read much better. This is a YA horror slash romance slash fantasy read and it was on point. I could picture what was happening as I was reading, the imagery brought the castle to life, with its bleeding walls and eerie manifestations. And although the romance was insta-love style it was fitting, blending nicely with the creepy storyline. ❤️ The Ethiopian-inspired elements added a depth to the story and the characters. I really enjoyed learning more about Andromeda’s background and how it influenced her journey. A great debut novel. 3.75 ⭐️ Thanks to @onceuponabookclubbox for my gifted box! Use my code: swgreads to receive 10% off a box for you! Link in bio! 💀🏰❤️ QOTD: Do you read retellings? Alternatively, what’s one of your favourite reads so far this year? 📚✨🪡 #BookReview #WithinTheseWickedWalls #LaurenBlackwood #JaneEyreRetelling #Fantasy #Horror #Bookstagram #BookRecommendations #bookrecommendations #reader #bookcommunity #bookaddict #readersofinstagram #bookreview #bibliophile #bookclub #booksbooksbooks #aesthetic #booklove #recommendthisbook #onceuponabookclub #BookstagramCommunity #Booksta #ouabcvip #CreativeBookstagram #bookphotography #wednesdaybooks
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 🌶️ The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me and e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. First let me say that this book maybe should have a trigger warning. There is a lot about torture and abuse in this story. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about this book. I was super intrigued by the idea of vampires during the Civil War and what part they would have played in slavery. The plot of this book was very interesting and I liked the mix of fantasy elements with actual historical situations. At first I couldn’t put this book down, but when I got to about 65% I started to lose a little interest. I think that my main issue was the romance. Individually I really enjoyed Lex and Jerusalem. I also liked the will they/won’t they at the beginning, but once Lex admitted his feelings and Jerusalem continued to treat him fairly badly even though he hadn’t done anything that warranted that treatment, I got frustrated. I know obviously she has a lot of trauma to work through, but her treatment of him seemed excessive. I also didn’t love all the time jumping. It was confusing because it wasn’t really delineated clearly. There would be a page break and then I wouldn’t realize that the sections I was reading was happening in the past until I was a few paragraphs in. It made my reading experience feel choppy. Overall, this was a really interesting concept for a book and there were definitely some parts that I really enjoyed. #fantasybooks #fantasyromancebooks #civilwarvampire #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood
Today's author spotlight is on Fantasy Author, Lauren Blackwood, @laurenblackwoodwrites! Lauren Blackwood (she/her) is the NYT Bestselling author of WITHIN THESE WICKED WALLS, which was the Reese’s Book club Fall 2021 YA Pick, WILDBLOOD, and her latest novel, THE DANGEROUS ONES. She is a Jamaican American living in Virginia. When not writing, she's a musician and a tiramisu connoisseur. Photo Credit: Lina Saric #MelanininYA #LaurenBlackwood #BlackBooksMatter #RepresentationMatters #InstaBooks
Thank you to @macmillanaudio for an ALC of The Dangerous Ones! Released on May 14th, @laurenblackwoodwrites is back with another fun fantasy book that tackles some important topics while remaining entertaining and easy to get lost in. Civil War setting + vampires + magical abilities + star-crossed/opposites attract romance = 😍😍😍 . ❓ What is your favorite time period for a book setting? I like the 80s/90s a lot but if I had to pick a time before I was born I’d go Victorian England or French Revolution. . . . #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #yafantasy #bipocauthors #macaudio2024 #advancelistenercopy #macmillanaudio #wednesdaybooks #readdiversebooks #yahistoricalfiction #2024bookrelease # #2024readingchallenge #killyourtbr #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #booksofig #booksbooksbooks #bookwormsofig #readingchallenge #adultsreadyatoo
Eek! Look who stopped by! Leah ABSOLUTELY LOVES Lauren Blackwood's The Dangerous Ones, and you will, too--especially because these beauties are SIGNED! 😍 🏷️ #signedbooks #laurenblackwood #romantasy #ireadya #thedangerousones #scrawlbooks
BOOK FEATURE Book: The Dangerous Ones Author: Lauren Blackwood Genre: YA Historical Fantasy SYNOPSIS: A romantic historical fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blackwood, set in the American Civil War with vampires and people with demigod-like abilities. 1863, Pennsylvania War doesn’t scare Jerusalem-she’s a Saint. Thanks to powerful demigod-style reflexes, endurance, and strength, she’s fearless. And ever since the Confederates declared civil war, partnering with the vampires who benefitted off slavery, she and her battalion of Saints are essential to the Union army. Jerusalem herself had been enslaved by a vampire, escaping North only after her family was murdered. She knows the enemy better, hates the enemy more than anyone in her battalion, and has been using it to her advantage since she joined the war a year ago. More than anything she wants revenge, but if she can help Black people gain freedom and equality without having to steal it for themselves like she had to, then all the better. But she never expects to have to team up with a vampire to do it. Alexei is one of those handsome, arrogant Ancient Vampires. But he’s on the Union’s side, and in the year they’ve known each other, has never done anything but prove he’s on hers. Together, they set out to change the course of the war and take down the vampire who destroyed everyone Jerusalem loved. But for her, it’s about more than justice. It’s about killing a god. Thank you to @wednesdaybooks for sending me this copy. QOTD: What’s your last, now, next? #wednesdaybooks #mondayreads #bookdragons #bookfeature #bookfriends #bookphotography #readersofig #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #fantasyreader #historicalfiction #historicalfantasy #allthebooks #avidreader
Having the best bookish time in Virginia!! 🤩 thank you @carolines_bookshelf for showing me around 💕 Met the fabulous and lovely @laurenblackwoodwrites tonight at her signing event for The Dangerous Ones and got a themed vampire mocktail 🍸 Also am visiting a lot of indie shops 💕 I’ll be sure to post more content!! Q: what is the last out of town place you visited? #indiebookshops #laurenblackwood #thedangerousones #virginiabeach
✨️ The Dangerous Ones Review ✨️ Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC! The Dangerous Ones intertwines historical fiction and fantasy. We meet Jerusalem, a young girl who was enslaved by a vampire. She’s a Saint, with demi-god skills, and manages to escape to the North where she joins the Union army. There, she meets Alexei, a vampire on the Union’s side. Jerusalem doesn’t trust Alexei, or any other vampires at first, but as they work together, they realize they have feelings for each other. It was really interesting to see the ways fantasy intertwined with history in this book. The language used is pretty modern, which makes it a bit of an easier read but doesn’t really match the historical setting. Jerusalem is a feisty and strong main character. She was justified in her anger towards and mistrust of vampires, but she was also often reckless in her quest for vengeance. Alexei was more thoughtful in his actions, as he should be after existing for several hundred years. There was mostly bickering, rather than banter, between Jerusalem and Alexei, which made the romance feel a bit unrealistic. I loved the dual narrators. They were able to really bring Jerusalem and Alexei's characters to life and embodied the emotions each character was feeling. ✨️ QOTD: What are you currently reading? #TheDangerousOnes #LaurenBlackwood #MacAudio24 #HistoricalFantasy #BookReview #Bookstagram #BooksofIG #ReadersofIG #BookLover #Audiobook #BookWorm #ReadingCommunity #TalkWordyToMeTeam #ReadersoftheLateARC #ARCReader #ReadersofIG
Thank you @wednesdaybooks @macmillan.audio for my #gifted copies of The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood, it’s available now! Swipe 👉🏽 for the synopsis It’s finally Friday and I’m hoping for a weekend without rain so I can float in the pool while I read this one after I finish Black Sun which I’m loving! Any fun plans this weekend? #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #wednesdaybooks #bookfeature #bookphoto
👉Are you watching Bridgerton tonight?! ⭐️REVIEW⭐️ I really enjoyed The Dangerous Ones by @laurenblackwoodwrites ! Jerusalem is a Saint who is out for vengeance against those that enslaved her and she is a BEAST. 👏 She’s got these awesome powers that she puts to use in ☠️ slavers and vampires! Alexei is the golden retriever vampire MMC to her grumpy FMC. I love him. They deserve the world together! I REALLY enjoyed this fantasy historical look on the Civil War. There was adventure, vengeance, romance, and some fun lore like Van Helsing being the first Saint- people who are gifted with superhuman abilities! This was so interesting and a fun read for sure! Thank you to @wednesdaybooks for the copy! #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #diversereads #historicalfantasy #vampirebooks #yafantasy #bookreview
Staff Book of the Week is ... The Dangerous Ones, by Lauren Blackwood. �"I never would have thought to pair vampires and the American Civil War, but in this book, the pairing is perfect. Jerusalem is an escaped slave whose powers would rival those of Van Helsing, but is it enough to finally destroy her ex-master/destroyer of her family? Such a good read!" �—Ashley #laurenblackwood #macmillan #thedangerousones #bookoftheweek #staffpickthursday #coffeetreebooksfavorite
New releases in young adult fiction this week … #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #macmillan #thewitchesofsilverlake #simoncurtis #SimonCurtis #stephanieson #simonandschuster #jashammonds #disneypublishing #sarahdass #rickriordanpresents #itwaitsintheforest #harpercollins #flyboy #kaseyleblanc #ireadya #ireadyalit #ireadyabooks #coffeetreebooksya
Nieuwe boekenlevering 📚❤️! Deze mooie boeken zijn verkrijgbaar in onze winkel en webshop 🎉 • • Gratis verzending binnen België vanaf €50 en naar Nederland vanaf €75 ❤️ • • #book #bookstagram #instabook #studioghibli #cookbook #acraneamongwolves #thedangerousones #junehur #laurenblackwood #read #reading #readmorebooks #readersgonnaread #booklover #booknerd #bookaddict #bookrecommendations #booklove #booktok #bookobsessed #bookgram #booklife #bookstore
Thank you @macmillan.audio for the #gifted audio and @wednesdaybooks for the gifted digital copy. This or That: Have demi-god warrior abilities or be a vampire? 1863, Pennsylvania. The Civil War is at hand. Vampires, Saints with demi-god-like abilities and other creatures of myth are taking sides; and the battle is bloody. Jerusalem is a Saint honing her fighting skills after escaping slavery. The lives of the last of her family hang in the balance as freedom becomes ever fleeting. Alexei, fights beside Jerusalem hoping to gain her trust and love. Kind of hard to do when his kind (vampire) tore apart her family. Blackwood mixes fantasy against the backdrop of the Underground Railroad. This novel comes with content/trigger warnings that should be taken into account before reading. The timeline jumps between past and present as the backstories of the MCs are revealed. The themes surrounding prejudices, racism and slavery are paired with the slow breakdown of vulnerable walls, shared torturous histories and character growth. I liked how the author shows two very different personas and perspectives from MCs with equally horrific backgrounds. I will say that this is noted as romantic historical fantasy and yet the language is modern day. It can be a little off-putting at times. The world building is missing introduction when it comes to the demigod abilities and structure associated with other mythical creatures. I was also set back by the way Jerusalem treats Alexei through the majority of the book. It made their relationship hard to believe. The audio went smoother for me than digital. Read by Angel Pean and Jay Ben Markson, I found the audio pacing fit the plot for me better. I loved the voice of Jerusalem and the calm cadence of Alexei too. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and like that its a standalone that wraps up nicely. Happy book birthday to the author! This one is out now! #macmillan #macmillanaudio #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #macmillanaudiolisteningsquad #macmillanaudiobooks #alc #alcreview #audiobook #audiobooks #wednesdaybooks #vampires #historicalfantasy
"You and me, Tiny," he murmured. ⠀ "Till the end of us," I whispered back.⠀ ⠀ Lauren Blackwood, The Dangerous Ones⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ✨ Happy Pub Day to @laurenblackwoodwrites on your gripping new release The Dangerous Ones! This story is jam-packed with tropes I love like found family, enemies to lovers, karmas a bitch, supernatural powers, and vampire battles. Check out my review below and the book details in the comments. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ 📕 The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood was a heart pounding supernatural historical book set in the Civil War Era in America. The mix of history and fantasy was done really well and I love how the author wove enhanced humans and creatures like werewolves, sasquatches, and vampires into a unique take on U.S. slavery and war. Jerusalem is a dynamic character with a strength that surpasses her survival and training. Her character grows so much in the book and I love that she gets the satisfaction of retribution in the end. Alexei is a great counterpart to Jerusalem and I really like their training and banter. The romance seemed less important than their friendship and trust in one another and I think that's why I enjoyed this story so much!⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #newreleasetuesday #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #netgalleyreads #ravereviews #arcreader #bookbirthday #gorgeouscovers #historicalromantasy #readblackauthors
Happy #bookbirthday to @laurenblackwoodwrites for THE DANGEROUS ONES! All pre orders shipped and tracking has been sent! There are 15 signed extras with exclusive edges available now 💝 #bookishsigns #bookishsignsinfl #bookishsignsandmore #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood
Happy release day @laurenblackwoodwrites ! See our review below, but if you are in the Cincinnati area, go visit Lauren at @josephbethcincy on May 23rd! Summary: Jerusalem has been working toward revenge for the last year of her life. She escaped slavery, found shelter with the Union army, and has been training every day to get strong enough to go kill the vampire who kept her enslaved and murdered her family. Her trainer, a vampire named Alexei, is there every step of the way—and is completely in love with her. This book is a unique twist on your usual vampire novel! Title: The Dangerous Ones Author: Lauren Blackwood @laurenblackwoodwrites Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5 Narrator: 🎙️ 🎙️ 🎙️ 🎙️ 4/5 Angel Pean, Jay Ben Markson Spice: 🌶️ 1/5 Tropes: Vampire/Human Forbidden Romance Historical/Civil War era Triggers: Enslavement Torture/confinement Whitney’s Thoughts: This is a really great story and a unique take on a vampire romance. The weaving of history with paranormal romance was so well done! I’ve been wanting a good vampire story and this was the perfect listen! Thank you to @macmillan.audio @laurenblackwoodwrites @angelpean_ and Jay Ben Markson for a copy of this audio book! #ournerdiestthing #audiobookreview #alcreview #thedangerousones #vampireromance #paranormalromancce #laurenblackwood #macmillanaudio
✨ Happy #bookbirthday to @laurenblackwoodwrites, @carvell_wallace, Lawrence Ingrassia, and all of our authors with new books out today! And, happy paperback publication day to @elliotpage. 📚✨ . #bookstack #bookpile #bookspines #wednesdaybooks #mcdbooks #newbooks #classroomlibrary #macmillanacademic #springreads #mayreads #henryholtbooks #bookbirthday #flatironbooks #pageboy #laurenblackwood #carvellwallace #afatalinheritance
Happy happy #BookBirthday to THE DANGEROUS ONES by @laurenblackwoodwrites!! 🎈 “The genre-bending elements add a fresh twist to the enemies-to-lovers historical drama. A cheeky, romantic, and thrilling revenge story.” — Kirkus Reviews . . . #IReadYA #YAlit #YALiterature #YoungAdult #BooksForTeens #YA #Bookstagram #Bookish #Bookworm #MacmillanLibrary #Reading #NowReading #Reader #ReadersAdvisory #ReadAdv #CollectionDevelopment #CollDev #Librarian #TBR #ToBeRead #Fiction #Romance #Fantasy #Romantasy #Historical #BookBday #WednesdayBooks #LaurenBlackwood #TheDangerousOnes
Keep calm and read on with New Book Tuesday!! . We have some great titles today including The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood which is a Young Adult title! War doesn’t scare Jerusalem. She’s a Saint. Thanks to powerful demigod-style reflexes, endurance, and strength, she’s fearless. And she has one goal - revenge. But she never expects to team up with the handsome, arrogant Alexei to accomplish it. He’s one of those Ancient Vampires. And ever since her family was enslaved and murdered by one, Jerusalem hates vampires. 🦇 . Stop by Main Street Books to check out The Dangerous Ones and any of the other new titles we have!! #newbooktuesday #newbooks #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #mainstreetbooksstcharles #mainstreetbooksmo #indiebookstore #readlocal #shoplocal
Happy book birthday to… 🐻🐠 A BEAR, A FISH, AND A FISHY WISH illustrated by @brandonjamesscott 🐠🐻 From the creators of A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree comes another fun-to-read romp featuring lovable, hungry Bear. This time, he’s after a determined fish, who has an altogether different plan 🐺🌙 CAMP SYLVANIA: MOON MADNESS by @andimjulie and @crystalwrote 🐺🌙 From Julie Murphy, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’, and acclaimed coauthor Crystal Maldonado comes the sequel to the hilarious and creepy middle grade summer-camp story—this time featuring werewolves! ✨🩸 THE DANGEROUS ONES by @laurenblackwoodwrites ✨🩸 “A perfect mix of MAGIC, VAMPIRES, STAR-CROSSED LOVE, and writing as SHARP AND DEADLY a spear.” - Nisha J. Tuli, author of Trial of the Sun Queen THE THRILLING ROMANTASY FROM NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR LAUREN BLACKWOOD! One vampire to kill. Another to love. #foliojr #kidlit #foliolit #ya #yabooks #romantasy #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #juliemurphy #brandonjamesscott
It’s New Release Tuesday! Black YA releasing today: THE DANGEROUS ONES by Lauren Blackwood (@laurenblackwoodwrites) IT WAITS IN THE FOREST by Sarah Dass (@sarahdasswrites) THIS NIGHT IS OURS by Ronni Davis (@lilrongal) THIRSTY by Jas Hammonds (@jashammonds) BLOOD & FURY by Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland (@justina.ireland) Happy Release Day! Full list of 2024 Black YA Releases at: melanininya.com/2024-book-release-schedule #MelanininYA #LaurenBlackwood #SarahDass #RonniDavis #JasHammonds #JustinaIreland #NewReleaseTuesday #YALit
Happy Tuesday! It’s Pub-day for this gem, The Dangerous Ones by @laurenblackwoodwrites I enjoyed this fantasy set in the historical setting of the American civil war. The author portrays vampires with some unique characteristics, or some very never seen at least. It’s dark, so make sure you check out the author’s list of trigger warnings at the beginning. I was engaged throughout and devoured this one in 2 days. For a full review, check out my goodreads page. Happy reading 📖 #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #wednesdaybooks #pubday #newbooktuesday #newbooks #fantasybooks #historicalfantasy #vampirebooks #smpinfluencers
Join us in celebrating pub day for THE DANGEROUS ONES by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blackwood! 🖤 Brooding vampires and unique magic make for an adventurous and romantic story that is perfect for fans of Dread Nation and Beasts of Prey! #TheDangerousOnes #LaurenBlackwood
Happy Pub Day 🎉🎉 It's our favorite day of the week, New Book Tuesday! Here are the 7 books hitting our shelves today. 📖 Oye by Melissa Mogollon Family Life / Humorous A coming-of-age comedy. A telenovela-worthy drama. A moving family saga. All in a phone call you won’t want to hang up on… 📖 Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris Literary Fiction / Southern An explosive and emotional story of four siblings--each fighting their own personal battle--who return home in the wake of their father's death in order to save their family's home from being sold out from under them. 📖 Road to Ruin by Hana Lee Fantasy An electrifying, gritty fantasy from debut author Hana Lee that takes a royal messenger on a high-speed chase across a climate-ravaged wasteland, featuring motorcycles, monsters, and magic 📖 Woodworm by Layla Martinez Horror A grandmother and granddaughter live together uneasily in a house haunted by sombras, shadows of the dead, when the granddaughter is accused of a terrible crime. Martinez mixes horror and folklore to tell a story of class, rural tradition and historical wounds - and revenge. 📖 Magical/Realism: Essays on Music, Memory, Fantasy, amd Borders by Vanessa Angélica Villarreal Memoir / Pop Culture A brilliant, singular collection of essays that looks to music, fantasy, and pop culture--from Beyonc to Game of Thrones--to excavate and reimagine what has been disappeared by migration and colonialism 📖 Rise of A Killah: My Life on Wu-Tang by Ghostface Killah Autobiography / Hip Hop Rise of a Killah is Ghost’s autobiography, focusing on the people, places and events that mean the most to him as he enters his fourth decade writing and performing 📖 The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood YA Fantasy One vampire to kill. Another to love Which are you most excited to read? 📚 Find All Of Today's Releases at BookHavenBooks.com 📚
✨ The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood ✨ ARC Review Out NOW ! This book was amazing ! First, thank you to @wednesdaybooks for letting me read an ARC through Netgalley for an honest review. The Dangerous Ones was an epic historical YA Romantasy full of battles, vengeance, strong and brave characters and fights for freedom and justice. The banter between Jerusalem and Alexei, the two main characters, was so good ! They made me laugh many times. The inner conflict of Jerusalem because she's falling for Alexei, her trainer was so well written. Even if she's falling for him, she hates him because of what he is and what he represents in her life. When I finished the book, I wished there was more. I needed more and I hope there is gonna be more in another book even if it felt like it was the end. Read this book if you like : ✨ Forbidden Romance ; ✨ Enemies to Lovers ; ✨ YA Historical Romantasy ; ✨ Vampires, Saints, Werewolf ; ✨ Epic Fights ; ✨ Standalone. ❓ If you could, would you be a vampire to live an eternal life ? 👇 Synopsis In the Comments ! #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #wednesdaybooks #smpinfluencers #arcreview
Happy happy book birthday to @laurenblackwoodwrites’ THE DANGEROUS ONES! I’m so excited to bite into this sweepingly romantic and bloody book! #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #prettybooks #bookstagram #vampires #tbr #wednesdaybooks #yabooks #fantasybooks #booksandquilts #booksbooksbooks #bookbirthday
The happiest of book birthdays to the brilliant Lauren Blackwood and The Dangerous Ones! I can’t wait to start this gem tonight! US alt history with vampires?? Say less #thedangerousones #belowaveragepicsofgreatbooks #laurenblackwood #youngadultbooks #vampirelit #wednesdaybooks #weneeddiversebooks
💫 Book Review 💫 The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood (U.S. Release May 14, 2024) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Dangerous Ones is an extremely creative historical fantasy! What if vampires were real AND exploited America’s slave trade for their own gain? I loved getting both Jerusalem’s and Alexei’s POVs and how different they were, right down to their speech patterns. Those differences helped to develop their characters and bring them to life. Jerusalem’s and Alexei’s motivations are clear right from the start - both had very valid reasons for joining the Union’s cause, both experiencing trauma through enslavement. Despite their differences, they are very similarly driven and it’s no surprise they fell for each other. The timeline jumped around a bit, sometimes it was clearly noted, and other times it wasn’t, which occasionally made the plot hard to follow. However, these flashbacks provide pivotal moments that define both Jerusalem’s and Alexei’s growth. Overall, this was my favorite book of Blackwood’s to date. While I still have questions about the role of Saints in this world, I found the plot compelling, the characters are strong, easily relatable, and the writing engaging. A great addition to the historical fantasy romance subgenre! Thank you to @netgalley, @wednesdaybooks, @stmartinspress for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. You can also read my review using the link in my story and in my Book Review highlights. #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #bookreview #netgalley #wednesdaybooks #stmartinspress #2024books #2024releases #bookstagram
🌸𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕤 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕆𝕦𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕄𝕒𝕪 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟜 - 𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝟚🌸 🇬🇧/🇨🇿 🇬🇧 Happy Tuesday! It's time for part 2 in my bookish calendar for May..Let me introduce the books on my radar and TBR.😍 🅀🄾🅃🄳: What are you currently reading? . . . 🇨🇿Krásné úterý! Přišel čas na druhou část mého knižního kalendáře na květen. Tyhle jsou na mém radaru a TBR.😍 🄾🄳: Co pěkného právě čtete? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #books #comingoutinmay2024 #ninasbookcalendar2024 #maybooks #acraneamongwolves #junehur #thedixonrule #ellekennedy #thegirlinquestion #tesssharpe #itwaitsintheforest #sarahdass #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #theamethystkingdom #akmulford #crownsofresemblance #hklaurin #thequeensdevice #brittanymack #heavenbreaker #sarawolf #booklover #knihomolka #kniznikalendar #vychazivkvetnu #ninykniznikalendar2024 #bookstagram
A perfect mix of magic, vampires, star-crossed love... The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood (link in bio) #review—The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood is a captivating novel set during the American Civil War. It features vampires and individuals with demigod-like powers. This young adult vampire fantasy romance is a thrilling read that left me wanting more. @wednesdaybooks #gifted #affilitaelink #bookmail #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #yafantasy #vampires
Thank you, partner @wednesdaybooks for the gifted copy! First, This handsome boy is not a dangerous one but I couldn't pass up the moment. He is infact a gentle man who likes to carry a ball of yarn to sleep with. 🧶 The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood Release Date: May 14, 2024 Fantasy / Historical Fiction/ Vampires /YA The Dangerous Ones is a historical fantasy, which takes place during the Civil War. This Civil War has Vampires fighting for the Confederacy, and they have been benefitting from slavery for years. Our main character is fighting for the Union Army and she is part of a group called the Battalion of Saints. Our main character is Jerusalem who has demi god-like reflexes and strength. As she fights alongside Alexi, a 3000-year old Vampire on the Union side, they work to not only do their part in the war but also get revenge on those who have hurt them. I was very excited about the premise of this book. I liked the story overall but found the relentless battles and abuse hard to read. It was darker than I expected and personally struggled with the darker themes. The story is compelling and impactful and I recommend it for dark fantasy readers. QOTD: How was your weekend? Did you get up to anything fun? #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #yafantasybooks #darkfantasy #vampirefiction #yafiction #yafantasy #newbooks #mustreads #bookishphotography
5⭐️Pub Week Review! Thank you Wednesday Books, St Martin’s Press, #SMPInfluencers and Lauren Blackwood for this free book! “The Dangerous Ones” by Lauren Blackwood ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Historical Fantasy with Romance. Location: Virginia and Pennsylvania, USA. Time: 1863-American Civil War. Triggers: War, slavery, blood/gore, abuse. Imagine: An alternative 1860s America. Slavery and torture are rampant, and honorable citizens want Black people to be given full rights. But Southern slave owners are vampires, and the Underground Railroad is run by supernatural power. Jerusalem is 18 years old, a 5-foot-tall Black woman born into slavery. At 17, she escaped North after her vampire owner murdered her family. Now she’s the “Demon Saint”, with demigod-style reflexes, endurance, and strength. Her weapon is a tall spear. Since the Confederates and Southern vampires declared civil war, Jerusalem and her fellow Saints fight for the Union Army. She wants revenge, and to help Black people gain freedom and equality. She teams up with Union supporter Alexei/the White Wolf (one of those handsome, arrogant Ancient Vampires from Europe). Their mission: change the course of the war, and take down the vampire who destroyed everyone Jerusalem loved. Author Blackwood has written a book about a young Black woman seeking vengeance, finding love, and taking charge of her own life. It’s full of emotions- both pain and joy. It’s also full of fantasy tropes about hot, powerful people. She uses 2 points of view with flashbacks to Jerusalem’s life in slavery, and to Alexei’s early life in 1500s Russia. Blackwood’s book is a heady mix of magic, romance, and a reminder of the horrors of the American Civil War. Her amazing world building takes us to a South where the skies are always filled with smoke and ash, to the battlefield where soldiers too young to be there are killed, where people range in age from 18 to 300 to 6000 years old. It’s a definite 5 stars from me!🌵📚💁🏼♀️ #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #smpinfluencers
🌺🗡️The Dangerous Ones ALC Review🗡️🌺 Written by Lauren Blackwood @laurenblackwoodwrites Narrated by Angel Pean and Jay Ben Markson Published by MacMillan Audio / @wednesdaybooks 💭QOTD: Happy Monday! How was your weekend⁉️ Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the ALC of The Dangerous Ones! All thoughts are my own. Releases May 14, 2024! Maybe it’s the influence of watching Vampire Diaries with @mandyisreading_, but I very much loved this YA romantasy/paranormal romance featuring Jerusalem, a runaway slave who is a Saint - someone supernaturally enhanced with reflexes, endurance, and strength and Alexei, who is a vampire, a creature Jerusalem swore to destroy. It is very much enemies to friends to lovers with a slow burn across the book, but with lots of longing, mostly on his part. I absolutely loved the voices of Jerusalem and Alexei, especially Jerusalem’s. Both voices and the wording of the dialogue truly takes the listener back in time to the civil war in this fictional version where vampires are involved in both sides of the war and the hunters, or Saints, are fighting alongside the Union army to bring them down. The characters develop nicely throughout the story, realizing so much about themselves and why they are and feel the way they do. You’ll love this if you like the Vampire Diaries, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Slayer, or stories of revenge and taking down the person that has been inflicting so much pain and trauma on countless individuals. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 #macmillanaudioinfluencer #macmillanaudio #wednesdaybooks #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #alcreview #audiobooks
Magic! Actually magic. You love the characters. You love the setting. You love the gore of it all. #book #books #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #bookish #booknerd #bookaddict #bookme #bookshelf #bookaholic #booklove #BookNow #bookphotography #booking #booklovers #bookstore #booksofinstagram #booknerdigans #bookquotes #bookcover #bookclub #bookishfeatures #Bookmark #withinthesewickedwalls #laurenblackwood #reesesbookclub
🎙️EPISODE 31 IS NOW LIVE🎙️ For the thirty-first episode of my podcast, I am excited to announce that I had the honor of chatting with two authors that I absolutely adore, NYT bestselling author Lauren Blackwood and debut author Sydney J. Shields! Tune in to listen to Lauren and I chat about fighting for family and taking charge of your destiny, and to hear Sydney and I chat about a grandmother’s love and finding the magic in our lives. #thewellreadpodcast #therealbookishwriter #laurenblackwood #thedangerousones #wednesdaybooks #smpinfluencers #sydneyjshields #thehoneywitch #orbitbooks #bookpodcast #authorinterview
🎙️EPISODE 31 IS NOW LIVE🎙️ For the thirty-first episode of my podcast, I am excited to announce that I had the honor of chatting with two authors that I absolutely adore, NYT bestselling author Lauren Blackwood and debut author Sydney J. Shields! Tune in to listen to Lauren and I chat about fighting for family and taking charge of your destiny, and to hear Sydney and I chat about a grandmother’s love and finding the magic in our lives. #thewellreadpodcast #therealbookishwriter #laurenblackwood #thedangerousones #wednesdaybooks #smpinfluencers #sydneyjshields #thehoneywitch #orbitbooks #bookpodcast #authorinterview
📖 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 Thank you @WednesdayBooks and @NetGalley for the gifted advanced review copy! 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑶𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝙴𝙿𝙳: 𝙼𝚊𝚢 𝟷𝟺, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆, 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹, 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: A romantic historical fantasy set during the American Civil War, featuring characters with demigod-like abilities and vampires. The protagonist, Jerusalem, is a Saint with superhuman abilities who fights for the Union army against the Confederates and their vampire allies. After being enslaved by a vampire and losing her family, Jerusalem seeks revenge and the freedom of Black people. She unexpectedly teams up with Alexei, a Union-supporting vampire, to change the course of the war and seek justice against the vampire who destroyed her family. 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: A compelling reinterpretation of traditional vampire lore set against the backdrop of the American Civil War. The narrative explores dark themes and depicts the cruel torments people can inflict upon each other. The central characters, Alexei and Jerusalem, share a deep bond forged through shared trials, providing an emotional depth to the story. The book stands as a testament to human endurance, the power of love, and the spirit that allows us to rise above our circumstances. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞: 🩸 American Civil War 🦇 Vampires 🩸 Revenge 🦇 Freedom & equality 🩸 Slow burn This early review copy was gifted to me by Wednesday Books through NetGalley. This in no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions. 🏷️ 𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐒 #bookstagram #booktok #booksta #books #bookish #bookworm #bookaddict #booklover #booklove #booksofinstagram #reading #readmorebooks #ilovebooks #bookreview #bookreviews #romantasy #romance #fantasy #bookrecs #bookrec #historicalfiction #historicalromance #vampire #vampireromance #TheDangerousOnes #LaurenBlackwood #WednesdayBooks #StMartinsPress #SMP #NetGalley
⭐️EPISODE 31 SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT⭐️ For the thirty-first episode of my podcast, I am excited to announce that I had the honor of chatting with NYT bestselling author Lauren Blackwood and debut author Sydney J. Shields! Anything with vampires is a must for me, and when I saw that ‘The Dangerous Ones’ was set during the Civil War with both vampires and vampire hunters, I knew I was going to devour it. This book is such a rollercoaster (in the best possible way), and Lauren does such an incredible job of weaving hope and love to something dark and devastating. And from the moment I heard about ‘The Honey Witch,’ I knew I would love it. It’s warm and beautiful, it’s heartbreaking yet sweet. It’s an ode to being yourself and fighting for the life you want, and I am so honored to be a part of Sydney’s debut journey. Tune in Sunday, 5/12/24, to listen to Lauren and I chat about fighting for family and taking charge of your destiny, and to Sydney and I chat about found family and finding the magic in our lives. #thewellreadpodcast #therealbookishwriter #laurenblackwood #thedangerousones #wednesdaybooks #smpinfluencers #sydneyjshields #thehoneywitch #orbitbooks #bookpodcast #authorinterview
Did I anger the book God's today? 🫢 I went into The Works to buy pens.... Just. Pens... I failed.... (I'm a book dragon - it's inevitable) But in my defence (there's always a bookiah defence) when I eventually get my head out my reading slump, I'm sure I'll enjoy: Within these Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood.... But are the Book Gods angry that I didn't succumb to the sparkly lure of the 3 for £6 deal ??? Time will tell... 《 From the blurb 》 Andromeda is a debtera - an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the evil eye. She would be hired, that is, if her mentor hadn't thrown her out before she earned her licence. Now her only hope I to find a Patron - a rich individual who will vouch for her abilities. Sounds interesting to me 🤭 How's your bookish weekend looking? #bookgods #bookfind #youngadultbooks #exorcist #weekendread #imabookdragonnotabookworm #bookdragon #shinythings #myfavouritethings #weekendsunshine #sunnydaysinmay #theworks #bookdeals #stationary #withinthesewickedwalls #laurenblackwood #bookstagram
🍒💣 #bookreview 🍒💣 Title: The Dangerous Ones Author: Lauren Blackwood Publisher: Wednesday Books Publication Date: May 14th, 2024 (One thing I do give a TW/CW for is for on-page animal death, and that happens right in the beginning of the book; however, it is done as an act of self-defense). I love Lauren Blackwood’s books. Her last book, Wildblood, was an absolutely standout novel that I felt a lot of people slept on for how brilliant it is. Wildblood was mainly about black pain and magic (according to Blackwood), but The Dangerous Ones lets Blackwood not only write about black pain but to also indulge in many of the romantic fantasy impulses she usually has to curb in her more serious and focused novels. The centerpiece of The Dangerous Ones are our two protagonists: Jerusalem (a runaway slave girl who was also born a Saint, which is somewhat akin to a demi-god), and Alexei (an Ancient Vampire who traveled specifically from Europe to America to fight on the side of the Union Army). They live in the same encampment, training together every day, and fight advance battles for the Union Army because their encampment is made up of other Saints like Jerusalem. They’re so deadly and prolific the newspapers have given all the Saints nicknames. Jerusalem and Alexei are also fighting another battle: attraction and love of the star-crossed kind. Not only crossing ethnic lines, but also that of being Saint and Vampire. In the everyday moments and the heat of battle neither matter seems to bother either party, but in the small, silent moments the disparities between them seem to stretch like an ocean. Their chemistry on the page is absolute fire, and Blackwood has written them some of the best dialogue I’ve read in a romantasy in a long while. The Dangerous Ones is violent, fiery, angry, romantic, magnetic, and even though there are pacing issues in the latter half of the book it smashed. #romantasy #historicalfantasy #standalonenovel #vampirefiction #yafantasy #yaromantasy #arcreview #arcreader #arcreviewer #bookreviewer #bookinfluencer #comingsoon #wednesdaybooks #netgalley #laurenblackwood #thedangerousones #bookish #bookworm #bookstagram #bookstagrammer
I didn't die getting this picture, but I might later! I have a bit of a bee issue, it appears. That's alright, heading to Home Depot for some bee killer. I'll dress up in rain gear and come at those things with two cans, one in each hand. This way, if one can goes down, I'm rolling dirty. #fridayfeature 🧛♀️The Dangerous Ones🧛♂️ by Lauren Blackwood OUT 5/14/2024 Pennsylvania 1683. One vampire to kill. Another to love. In this romantasy vampire novel, we are back to the Civil War. The Confederate side with vampires to help keep slavery. On the other side is Jerusalem, and she's a saint. Vampires murdered her family, and she fights with the Union to end slavery. So how is it she's falling in love with a vampire? Thank you to @wednesdaybooks for my gifted copy of this beautiful book! QOTD Any tips for killing bees? Have you ever been stung? Attacked? Talk to me all about bees! #bookinfluencer #iginfluencer #romantasy #wednesdaybooks #bookmail #bookfeature #booksonlyblog #igreads #featurefriday #historicalromance #whattoread #mytbr #vampirebooks #allaboutbooks #booktalk #myshelf #booksonig #bookstagram #beeinfestation #readersareleaders #thedangerousones #prettycovers #booksbooksbooks #keepreading #bookmailisthebestmail #bookishcommunity #bookishlove #laurenblackwood #vampire
{audiobook review} 🗡️The Dangerous Ones🗡️ Author: Lauren Blackwood Pub Date: May 14, 2025 Thank you @macmillan.audio #partner for the free audiobook! I was very curious to have a mix of genres of historical fiction, vampires, fantasy and young adult! And bonus….a new author! In this book we follow Jerusalem, a girl who has joined the war after her family was murdered. She’s looking to even the score and teams up with a vampire to get the job done. I liked the mix of genres in this one however struggled a bit with the banter and language. I am not sure if it was a little too over the top but I had a hard time becoming invested in this one. Jerusalem’s relationship towards Alexei didn’t seem playful it seemed a little hurtful which lead to me getting frustrated with her as a character. As far as the audio goes, the narrator did a wonderful job engaging the story and I do think enhanced the overall experience reading this book. Unfortunately, this one was a little bit of a miss for me but as always I appreciate the opportunity to listen and find new authors! 📖Synopsis in comments. 🔪 Happy Friday Eve…any fun plans this weekend? #macaudio2024 #bookstagram #booklover #booklove #bookobsession #bookobsessed #bookaddict #bookaddicted #bookaddiction #bookworm #avidreader #avidreaders #booksbooksandmorebooks #bookwormsunite #read #readmore #readmorebooks #readlikebethany #readersgonnaread #reader #readersofinstagram #readersofinsta #readabook #bookblogger #booknerd #laurenblackwood #thedangerousones
✨✨REVIEW — The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood✨✨ ✨ ✨ I read the synopsis for The Dangerous Ones, and I immediately wanted to read it - Civil War but add vampires and other paranormal creatures. I felt like the plot lived up to what I expected and found it engaging while fairly fast paced. I also really loved some of the side characters, particularly Odessa. In my opinion, the ending was incredibly well done — it was so vivid and satisfying. The elements that didn’t really work for me were the romance arc and some of the language choices. For the romance, I just struggled to see it and felt the characters could’ve been better as friends. I really enjoyed Jerusalem and Alexei as individuals just struggled to see them as a couple. As far as the language, I couldn’t wrap my head around some of the modern choices in the given timeline. I had both a digital and audio copy of this and found I enjoyed it most when combining them. I felt that both narrators, Angel Pean and Jay Ben Markson, did well to bring their respective characters and their distinctly different backgrounds to life. This was a book that definitely needed two narrators in my opinion, so I’m glad the decision was made to use both Pean and Markson. Overall, if the premise of the book sounds interesting to you, I recommend checking it out and forming your own opinions. ✨ ✨ Edition shown: ALC courtesy of @netgalley and @macmillan.audio eARC courtesy of @netgalley and @wednesdaybooks Overall Rating: 4⭐️ QOTD: Do you enjoy historical fantasy or fiction books? ✨ ✨ 🏷️: #reading #Reader #ReadersOfInstagram #Readers #ReadersOfIG #ReadersOfInsta #Books #BooksBooksBooks #Bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #BookRecommendations #BookRecommendation #booknerd #BooksOfInstagram #BookReviewer #BookReviewers #BookReviewersOfInstagram #BookReviewersOfIG #BookRecommendationsOfInstagram #TalkWordyToMeTeam #MacAudio2024 #TheDangerousOnes #LaurenBlackwood #ARCReader #Audiobooks #Audiobookstagram #YAFantasy #YABookstagram #BookDragon #BookLover
May Releases on my TBR !! Which book are you excited for this month ? 🏷️ #mayrelease #maytbr #bookrecommendations #bookrelease #booksbooksbooks #books #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookpost #fiction #romance #fantasy #ya #newadult #contemporaryart #goodreads #amazonreads #sydneyjshields #junehur #laurenblackwood #ctgibson
𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 🎧 🌟🌟🌟💫 𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑎𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒: 5/14/24 I was so excited to get this as a part of the Macmillan audio influencer program. This was my first audiobook through there program. The author has been on my radar for a while. I was even more thrilled because this was a historical fantasy. If I had to give a movie reference think Abraham Lincoln: vampire hunter. If you liked that movie you most certainly should give this book a try. The storyline I thought was different with Vampires, good vs evil, super human minorities, slave rebellion etc. Jerusalem and Alexei were both strong leads. The romance aspect I hoped for more. Their life stories is what truly made the plot. Their past, present and potential future is what will keep you turning the pages. I found myself at some points becoming bored with the story line. I did finish the book because I had to know how a slave and her white vampire love story would end. The narration was well done. 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮: ➡️dual timelines ➡️dual POV ➡️historical fiction (civil war) ➡️fantasy ⚠️Trigger warnings include slavery, colorism, rape, war, and physical abuse Thank you @macmillan.audio for the free ALC🥰. #macmillianaudioinfluencer #arc #alc #bookstagram #read #fantasy #blackauthors #drbooksreads #laurenblackwood #thedangerousones
Hi Everyone! 👋 Happy Tuesday!!!💗 ~🌸𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓲 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀𝓼🌸~ Q: What are you currently reading? I am reading: 📖 Nightbane by Alex Aster 📖 The Murder Inn by James Patterson One Last Shot by Betty Cayouette! 4 out of 5 ⭐️!!! Loved this romance novel! The characters in this book were so easy to connect to and root for! I loved the romance in this book! The Theo & Emerson were such great characters and had amazing chemistry between them! I definitely recommend giving this one a read! This book released today May 7th, 2024! The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood! 3 out of 5 ⭐️!!! This was such a fun story! Loved the take this book had on vampires and the historical elements in this story! I did find the book to be a bit on the long side compared to what was actually happening in the story for over I really enjoyed this one! Great read that I definitely recommend checking out! This book releases on May 14th, 2024! Thank you @stmartinspress & @wednesdaybooks for sending me eARCs of both of these book to read and review!💚 • #bookstagram #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookblogging #bookaesthetic #bookaddict #readingaddict #bookphotography #booksandnature #booksoutside #readingoutside #bookreviewsofinstagram #bookrecommendations #bookrecsofinstagram #readersofig #newbookreleases #maybooks #mayreads #bookreleaseday #bookreleases #onelastshot #bettycayouette #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #stmartinspress #smpinfluencers #smpromance #wednesdaybooks #romancebooks #fantasybooklover
Still keeping pace with my reading challenge for the year! It was another busy month for me, but I got 5 books read thanks to audiobooks and 2 small Broadway librettos 😙 📚 BOOKS READ IN APRIL 📚 What Monstrous Gods by @rosamund_hodge The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown Memphis by Joe DiPietro The Dangerous Ones by @laurenblackwoodwrites The Bone Shard Daughter by @andreagstewart
The Dangerous Ones By Lauren Blackwood Narrated By Angel Pean and Jay Ben Markson 4 ⭐️ “Touch me and YOU die.” - Jerusalem The Dangerous Ones delivers historical-esk fantasy with fun banter and found family. Set during the Civil War, it would be fair to assume it to be a straight historical fantasy. It honestly didn’t feel that way. This was not a negative for me, but worth chatting about so perspective readers know what to expect. Slavery and the fight for freedom was absolutely a driving theme in this book; still, it was easy to forget what timeframe it’s set in. Modern language was a factor but also, there just weren’t many historical environmental aspects (not speaking about scenes where there was plainly a slave/master dynamic present) to keep the reader planted in the 1860s. Therefore, it read to me as an interesting vampire book set in pre-modern America, not specifically a civil war vampire book. I liked Jerusalem’s grit and tenacity. I didn’t always agree with her actions, but I really enjoyed her character. Alexei felt as opposite to Jerusalem as possible. I really enjoyed their dynamic and banter. I wanted more from their relationship than we got. Mostly I think Jerusalem’s realization that she can hate the vampires/horrible people that hurt her and love Alexei at the same time got short changed. The book is so action packed, she never got to sit and really sort through her feelings. For the audiobook, I loved these narrators. They embodied the main characters so well. I don’t think this would have been successful with a single narrator; so thank you for the dual narration! Shoutout to Pean for annunciating the w in sword. I’ve always done that and felt very validated the whole book. Thank you to @netgalley, Lauren Blackwood, and @macmillan.audio for the audiobook ARC as well as @stmartinspress for the eARC. 🏷️: #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #fantasybooks #bookreview #macmillanaudio #netgalley #arcreader #stmartinspress #talkwordytometeam #bookrecommendations
📣MONTHLY RECAP! I must have spent most of April with my head stuck in a book because how is it time for another recap already?! 🤷♀️ In between catch’s ups with friends and family, my stand out moments were… ~ Moving back to Ireland and discovering the joy that is M’Town and living in driving distance from the family (even if it means having to work with Narky Joey) - it’s good to be home! ~ My time with the Farraday’s always breaks my heart. It’s hard not to think of the ‘what if’s’.. I lost so much that night but I’ve done my time and I’ve paid the price. They may not forgive me but I’ve finally at a place where I can forgive myself… ~ Taking on a job as a live in housemaid 👀 ~ Finally facing the truth about Simon’s drinking. It was getting out of control and completely ruining our relationship. After that night, that car crash - there’s no way I could forgive him… APRIL STANDOUTS: 📖 My Favourite Mistake * 📖 Night Road 🎧 📖 The Housemaid 🎧 📖 Lies Lies Lies 🎧 APRIL READS: 📖 Take Two * 📖 Day One * 📖 The Kite Runner 🎧 📖 Within These Wicked Walls 🎧 📖 The Housemaid’s Secret 📖 Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows 📖 Home Before Night 📖 Things We Left Behind 🎧 * 📖 We Are Not Like Them So many great reads that I feel bad that more didn’t make my standout list! There was only one read which didn’t quite hit the mark for me (WTWW) however I’m not too surprised as it’s a genre I’m still trying out. 👉 Would love to know if any of these are in your Wishlist/TBR or how many you’ve read? Not pictured: Day One and The Housemaid *Gifted by the tagged publishers. Thank you 🙏 . . . . #monthlyrecap #booksiveread #aprilreads #monthinbooks #adeleparks #mariankeyes #laurenblackwood #abigaildean #freidamcfadden #kristinhannah #lucyscore #ballikaurjaswal #khaledhosseini #daniellehawkins #christinepridejopiazza #jppomare
The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood Publish Date: May 14 2024 Wednesday Books 🔪 War doesn’t scare Jerusalem—she’s a Saint. Thanks to powerful demigod-style reflexes, endurance, and strength, she’s fearless. And ever since the Confederates declared civil war, partnering with the vampires who benefitted off slavery, she and her battalion of Saints are essential to the Union army. 🧛♂️ For my full review please see my blog: www.adustibookshelf.ca #bookstagrammer #books #booksbooksbooks #addtoshelf #newrelease #comingsoon #laurenblackwood #thedangerousones #wednesdaybooks #stamartinspress #vampires #fantasy #freedom #civilwar
Happy first day of May! Today, we’re so excited to reveal this gorgeous Fae Crate exclusive cover artwork and page edge design that @cherryandsisters made for our June “Nemesis” crate book, written by @laurenblackwoodwrites!🩸✨ On this day each month, we typically reveal our chosen book of the month, but as previously announced, this month’s book is a Wednesday Books title and we’ve chosen to modify some of our reveals in solidarity with #SpeakUpSMP. We’ve held back on revealing the title, but the title will still be printed in the final versions of the book! Note that this is just a digital mockup of the dust jacket cover. Aside from this gorgeous cover, this edition will also come with: ✨ Exclusive hardcover artwork by @cherryandsisters ✨ Signed bookplates 👉🏻 NOTE ON SUBSCRIPTIONS: Open subscription spots will be offered to our Fae Crate waitlist after the 15th. You can join the waitlist by heading over to Shop > Monthly Boxes and selecting your desired subscription option. MORE ABOUT THE BOOK: War doesn’t scare Jerusalem. She’s a Saint. Thanks to powerful demigod-style reflexes, endurance, and strength, she’s fearless. And she has one goal - revenge. But she never expects to team up with the handsome, arrogant Alexei to accomplish it. He’s one of those Ancient Vampires. And ever since her family was enslaved and murdered by one, Jerusalem hates vampires. But in the year they've been fighting alongside one another against the Confederate Army and the vampires who benefitted off slavery, Alexei’s never done anything but prove he’s on the Union’s side and hers. She may know the enemy better, hate the enemy more than anyone in her battalion, but so does he. And she’ll use that to her advantage. Because if she can get her revenge by helping Black people gain freedom and equality without having to steal it for themselves like she had to, then all the better. Together, she and Alexei set out to change the course of the war, risking their hearts and themselves as they attempt to take down the vampire who destroyed everyone Jerusalem held dear. But for Jerusalem, it’s about more than love and justice. It's about killing a god.
🎧Audiobook Review🎧 💫A very special thanks to @macmillan.audio for the ALC. I can’t believe May is here already?! Can you? 🎧Review: Narrated by Angel Pean and Jay Ben Markson, the performance in The Dangerous Ones earns all the stars. The palpable tension between the characters adds depth to the narrative. Set in 1863 Pennsylvania, this romantic historical fantasy by Lauren Blackwood weaves a captivating tale featuring shifters, vampires, and individuals with demigod-like abilities. The premise is intriguing, offering a unique twist on the American Civil War. The slow burn romance between Jerusalem and the broody vampire, Alexei, adds an extra layer of complexity to the story. While their relationship may test listeners’ patience at times, the chemistry between them is undeniable. However, some language the author chose to use detracts from the historical setting, which may disrupt immersion for some readers. Overall, it’s an enjoyable listening experience, blending action, romance, and fantasy elements seamlessly. Fans of historical fantasy will find much to enjoy in this tale of vengeance and redemption. 💭What’s your favorite genre mashup in books? Like do you like contemporary with a dash of magic, etc? #TheDangerousOnes #LaurenBlackwood #BookReview #HistoricalFantasy #RomanceReads #VampiresAndShifters #CivilWarFantasy #MacmillanAudio #Audiobookreview
In just two weeks, THE DANGEROUS ONES by Lauren Blackwood hits shelves! This thrilling romantasy has vampires, magic, and plenty of revenge. 🖤🗡️ “A perfect mix of MAGIC, VAMPIRES, STAR-CROSSED LOVE, and writing as SHARP AND DEADLY a spear.” - Nisha J. Tuli, author of Trial of the Sun Queen #TheDangerousOnes #LaurenBlackwood #Vampires #Romantasy
Many thanks to @goodreads for this ARC giveaway! Despite a great opening hook, an interesting plot, a fast pace, unexpected plot twists, and a great ending, there were many flaws I couldn’t turn a blind eye to. Don’t get me wrong: it was not a dull read! It was compelling and I wanted to know what was going to happen, but I was also tempted to DNF due to many irritants. Plot: For most of the book, we simply follow a bunch of self-centred soldiers obsessed by vengeance. Instead of fighting a war to end slavery, they go rogue to take out specific vamps. The book doesn’t even address that they are deserters. There was a romance subplot, but nothing romantic about it. It was really more of a “one-sided love” thing that turned into an abusive relationship. I couldn’t deal with how this book romanticized verbal and physical abuse. Characters: Jerusalem was an awful MC: one-dimensional and contradictory, obsessed by vengeance. She wants to kill her enemies and doesn’t care who gets hurt or killed in the process. Even worse: she enjoys killing! She also keeps complaining about racism, but does the same to white people and vampires alike. I think she actually is the character that says the most racist comments throughout the book. Also, I don’t like how we never saw her heal through her trauma; she was simply full of rage and liked to take it out on her partner, Alexei. He was my favourite character for most of the book (along with Gael) until he turned into Jerusalem’s lap dog. Writing: I loved how the author managed to give the two MCs very different voices. It made the mid-chapter POV switches feel natural (and you know how I hate those). Other than that, I thought the writing was okay. However, I was really not a fan of the use of modern language in a late 1800s setting. #goodreads #goodreadsgiveaway #arc #arcs #arcreader #arclover #bookreview #bookstagram #booklover #books #bookstagrammer #bookish #bookrecommendations #reading #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookreviewer #bookreviews #instabook #booklovers #instabooks #booksofig #readersofig #bookworm #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood
belated earth day stack 🌎 What’s something positive about your week? 💚 Celebrating earth day is something that I mainly use to recognize what I’m grateful for on this earth and remember to treat it with respect just like everything else! Even if it’s not earth day anymore I still wanted to have a fun little blue and green stack for it My week has been very busy and up and down, but this weekend is supposed to be really nice where I live (with a little rain) and I’m so excited for that ✨ there’s only three weeks left in the semester and so I’ll be really busy but I’m also looking forward to taking some time to read this weekend • • • • #earthday #bookstack #bookstacks #bluebooks #greenbooks #theamericanroommateexperiment #elenaarmas #withinthesewickedwalls #laurenblackwood #thegildedwolves #roshanichokshi #thenoblemansguidetoscandalandshipwrecks #mackenzilee #allthestarsandteeth #adalyngrace #thepoisonseason #mararutherford #thedragonspromise #elizabethlim #awinterspromise #christelledabos #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #fantasybooks #bookblogger
I did finish this today but for this weeks #lunchwithlibby I am highlighting an #imaginariumbookfestival author with #laurenblackwood and her novel #withinthesewickedwalls Synopsis: Andromeda is a debtera—an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. She would be hired, that is, if her mentor hadn’t thrown her out before she could earn her license. Now her only hope of steady work is to find a Patron—a rich, well-connected individual who will vouch for her abilities. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rorschach reaches out to hire her, she takes the job without question. Never mind that he’s rude and demanding and eccentric, that the contract comes with a number of outlandish rules… and that almost a dozen debtera had quit before her. If Andromeda wants to earn a living, she has no choice. But she quickly realizes this is a job like no other, with horrifying manifestations at every turn, and that Magnus is hiding far more than she has been trained for. Death is the most likely outcome if she stays, the reason every debtera before her quit. But leaving Magnus to live out his curse alone isn’t an option because—heaven help her—she’s fallen for him. Stunningly romantic, Lauren Blackwood’s heartstopping debut, Within These Wicked Walls, ushers in an exciting new fantasy voice.
Just a quick book review... coming May 14th! 😍 #laurenblackwood #bookreview #readingismytherapy #bookstagram #bookdragon #netgalley
Last chance to pre order THE DANGEROUS ONES by @laurenblackwoodwrites This beauty is 🪶 Signed 🪶 Exclusive Edges 🪶 First Edition, Hardback 🪶 Ships within a week of release day 🪶 Free domestic shipping automatically applied, international shipping available SYNOPSIS A perfect mix of MAGIC, VAMPIRES, STAR-CROSSED LOVE, and writing as SHARP AND DEADLY a spear.” - Nisha J. Tuli, author of Trial of the Sun Queen THE THRILLING ROMANTASY FROM NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR LAUREN BLACKWOOD! One vampire to kill. Another to love. War doesn’t scare Jerusalem. She’s a Saint. Thanks to powerful demigod-style reflexes, endurance, and strength, she’s fearless. And she has one goal - revenge. But she never expects to team up with the handsome, arrogant Alexei to accomplish it. He’s one of those Ancient Vampires. And ever since her family was enslaved and murdered by one, Jerusalem hates vampires. But in the year they’ve been fighting alongside one another against the Confederate Army and the vampires who benefitted off slavery, Alexei’s never done anything but prove he’s on the Union’s side and hers. She may know the enemy better, hate the enemy more than anyone in her battalion, but so does he. And she’ll use that to her advantage. Because if she can get her revenge by helping Black people gain freedom and equality without having to steal it for themselves like she had to, then all the better. Together, she and Alexei set out to change the course of the war, risking their hearts and themselves as they attempt to take down the vampire who destroyed everyone Jerusalem held dear. But for Jerusalem, it’s about more than love and justice. It’s about killing a god. “A CHEEKY, ROMANTIC, and THRILLING revenge story.” - Kirkus #bookishsigns #bookishsignsandmore #bookishsignsinfl #dangerousones #thedangerousones #laurenblackwood #signedbooks #specialedition
Signed Exclusive Edition Of The Dangerous Ones by @laurenblackwoodwrites is available for pre order NOW! Signed by author Exclusive edges First edtion, hardback Ships within ten days of release (05/14/24) Synopsis A romantic historical fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blackwood, set in the American Civil War with vampires and people with demigod-like abilities. 1863, Pennsylvania War doesn’t scare Jerusalem - she’s a Saint. Thanks to powerful demigod-style reflexes, endurance, and strength, she’s fearless. And ever since the Confederates declared civil war, partnering with the vampires who benefitted off slavery, she and her battalion of Saints are essential to the Union army. Jerusalem herself had been enslaved by a vampire, escaping North only after her family was murdered. She knows the enemy better, hates the enemy more than anyone in her battalion, and has been using it to her advantage since she joined the war a year ago. More than anything she wants revenge, but if she can help Black people gain freedom and equality without having to steal it for themselves like she had to, then all the better. But she never expects to have to team up with a vampire to do it. Alexei is one of those handsome, arrogant Ancient Vampires. But he’s on the Union’s side and has never done anything but prove he’s on hers. Together, they set out to change the course of the war and take down the vampire who destroyed everyone Jerusalem loved. But for her, it’s about more than justice. It’s about killing a god. #laurenblackwood #laurenblackwoodwrites #bookishsigns #bookishsignsandmore #bookishsignsinfl #exclusive #booktok #bookhygge #bookstagram #specialedition
Are you ready for a spoooky story? 👻 Our October YA Reese’s Book Club pick is a chilling, gothic fairytale called Within These Wicked Walls by #LaurenBlackwood. I was so drawn into this magical world and it’s mysterious characters as they risk it all to ban an evil spirit from an old castle. Perfectly creepy with hints of romance, I think you’ll love this book just in time for Halloween! 🎃