Book: Bloom and Blood by Eva Chase
Reviewed by Nikkisnightreads
Rating: 4/5
I am still completely reeling from Bloom & Blood. I went in expecting a standard Academy "Why Choose," but what I found was a high-stakes, parallel-universe murder mystery that kept me breathless. The emotional weight hit me immediately. Elodie is snatched from her timeline on the anniversary of the death she blames herself for, carrying a secret guilt that her mates don’t even know about. She is immediately thrust into trying to solve the murder of her doppelgänger.
Watching her navigate this "have vs. have-not" society while swearing she won't ruin her mates' lives in this realm was absolutely gut wrenching. The mate bond is triggered through skin to skin contact and the tension is addicting; one touch changes everything, so every move she makes is a guarded, gloves-on dance with danger (or lust). Elodie tries to limit contact with her mates just to ensure she doesn't trigger the bond, even though she is continuously drawn to them.
Navigating a murder investigation through multiple POVs while dodging four men who have no idea who she actually is was such a rush. It’s rare to find a story that balances political intrigue and fated-mate tension so well, but this one nailed it—right up until that heart stopping cliffhanger of an ending. I am officially desperate for Book 2!