When blood runs red

Book: When Blood Runs Red by Patricia Prior

Reviewed by Your_bookish_fantasy

Rating: 3.75/5

𝓝𝓞 𝓢𝓟𝓞𝓘𝓛𝓔𝓡𝓢
⚜️𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕠𝕗- WHEN BLOOD RUNS RED by Patricia Prior

⚜️ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤-
(out of 5 stars)
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 🌶️🌶️🫑 / 5 -𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠
📚 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 / 5
Which books have I given similar ratings?
(𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑦𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛)
5⭐️ Fourth Wing / Bound by Inked Flame / Anathema / The Lies of Lena / Of Silver and Curses
4.75⭐️ Metal Slinger / The Pucking Comeback / Light Wielder / Wielder of Chaos and Carnage
4.5⭐️ Bitten / The Female / Quicksilver / Bride / Lights Out / A Bargain So Bloody
4⭐️ ACOTAR / Spellcaster / One Dark Window / From Blood and Ash / Phantasma / Butcher & Blackbird / Kiss of Basilisk / Hexes Go Well With Tequila
3⭐️ We Who Will Die / The Wolf King / Daughter of No Worlds / The Ex Hex

⚜️𝕂𝕖𝕪 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠:
Genre: Dark urban fantasy / Dystopian fantasy / Fantasy romance

📖 Pages: 454

POV: Dual POV, sisters Aria and Luna

Release date: 22 March 2026

Plot or character driven? Plot

Series: Empire of Blood and Greed, Book #1

Reading order? Yes, continuing series

Available on KU? ✅

Pace: Medium, with slower scientific sections

Memorable? ❌

Representation: ❌

Did I enjoy this book? ✅

Will I read the next book? ✅

Would I read anything else by this author? ✅

🚨🅲︎🅷︎🅴︎🅲︎🅺︎ 🆃︎🅷︎🅴︎ 🆃︎🆆︎!🚨
Graphic violence, blood, abuse, manipulation, toxic and controlling relationships, disturbing experimentation and dark subject matter. Please check the author’s full content warnings before reading.

⚜️𝕊ℙ𝔼ℂ𝕀𝔼𝕊 𝕀ℕ 𝕊𝕋𝕆ℝ𝕐:
🧬 Genetically engineered creatures / Monsters
🔮 Magical creatures (specific species unconfirmed)

⚜️𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝔽𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕤:
🌶️🌶️🫑 / 5
Sexual content is present, but romance remains secondary to the fantasy storyline.

⚜️𝕋ℝ𝕆ℙ𝔼𝕊
🖤 Morally grey / Morally black MMC
🔺 Love triangle / Two love interests
💼 Heir × Heiress
🎓 Classmates to lovers
💍 Arranged marriage
🔥 Forbidden romance
🖤 Possessive / Obsessive MMC
☠️ Toxic, codependent relationships
👑 Political power struggles
🏰 Founding families / Powerful bloodlines
🗡️ Familial betrayal
😈 Secrets and deception
🧲 Shifting alliances
🩸 Blood magic
🧪 Dangerous scientific experimentation
✨ Weaponised magic

✨𝖂𝖍𝖔 𝖜𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖉 𝖎 𝖗𝖊𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖙𝖔?✨
Readers who enjoy dark, politically driven fantasy with dystopian societies, morally questionable characters, dangerous magic and complicated relationships. Particularly those who prefer intricate plotting and conspiracies over romance-heavy storytelling.

✨ TᕼᗴᗰᗴՏ ✨
Power • Corruption • Class inequality • Family legacy • Survival • Sacrifice • Loyalty • Control • Manipulation • Morality • Scientific ethics

✨MOODS; ✨
Dark • Brutal • Atmospheric • Mysterious • Tense • Twisty • Emotional • Unsettling • Suspenseful • High-stakes

📝Cliff Notes Review-
FANTASY FIRST, ROMANCE SECOND! A dark, politically charged dystopian fantasy packed with blood magic, disturbing experiments, family betrayals and characters whose morals are questionable at best! The beautifully descriptive writing and overlapping conspiracies kept me invested, particularly as the secrets gradually unravelled. I wanted more explanation of the magic system, but the political intrigue and final revelations made this an enjoyable 3.75⭐️ start to the series!

😥 𝕎𝕙𝕪 𝕟𝕠 𝕗𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤?
MORE MAGIC LORE! The blood magic, blood rubies and experiments were fascinating, but I wanted a clearer understanding of the system’s history, rules and limitations. There was so much potential, yet I finished with more questions than answers.

THE PACING! Some of the scientific explanations slowed the momentum, and I occasionally found myself impatient to return to the political scheming and character interactions.

Neither ruined my enjoyment, but I needed more worldbuilding detail and tighter pacing for a higher rating.

🌍 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘:
THE POLITICAL INTRIGUE WAS BRILLIANT! Eclipsera is a deeply corrupt society where powerful families manipulate those beneath them, and even the magic system reinforces the divide between the privileged and the powerless. The combination of blood magic, scientific experimentation and political control made for an intriguing world.

Patricia Prior’s writing was beautifully descriptive without becoming difficult to follow. The atmosphere was rich, the emotions vivid and even the bloodier scenes had an almost hypnotic quality. Brutal, but beautifully written brutality!

I particularly enjoyed the secrets and overlapping storylines. Nobody seemed entirely trustworthy, and the shifting alliances kept me questioning everyone’s motives. The final revelations genuinely surprised me, leaving plenty of mysteries for the next instalment.

🧝‍♂️ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:
Aria: A heroine shaped by violence, manipulation and the expectations of a powerful family. Stronger than she realises, but her vulnerabilities and complicated relationships leave her open to exploitation.

Luna: Aria’s younger sister, whose desire for recognition and independence influences her decisions. Intelligent, but lacking the experience to recognise every danger around her. Her separate POV provides another perspective on the family’s political entanglements.

Dom: POSSESSIVE, OBSESSIVE AND MORALLY VERY DARK! His traumatic upbringing helps explain his behaviour without excusing it. His relationship with Aria is deeply codependent, blurring the boundaries between love, obsession and control.

Rowe: A gentler contrast to Dom, offering a very different romantic possibility for Aria. His presence complicates an already unhealthy relationship dynamic.

The wider cast: Manipulative families, questionable loyalties and characters driven by ambition, desperation and survival. Very few people can be considered entirely innocent!

⏳ 𝕎𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕚 𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕠𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕?
Re-read? ❓ Undecided
Recommend? ✅ Yes!

🪧𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
An ambitious, atmospheric fantasy with excellent political intrigue, morally questionable characters and a magic system that deserves much more exploration!

Although the details haven’t stayed with me particularly well, my original notes show how much I enjoyed the writing and unfolding conspiracies. There’s plenty of potential here, and I’m interested to see where the series goes next! 🩸👑

𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠;

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𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕤:

⭐️⭐️
I managed to finish it but it was rubbish. I won't keep a physical copy and won't recommend it, but it's a shame as the plot could have made a good book in another author's hands

⭐️⭐️.5
It was OK. I wish I didn't start this one as it didn't do it for me as I struggled to read it. It had an interesting premise that fell flat but I had to see what happened in the end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetitive writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail]
Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending it to all!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!

🔥⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥
This is my God level tier. The book must be perfectly memorable. Even after reading 50+ more books, I will remember character names and emotions along with the plot. If there is a special edition, then I need to own it! If there is a conversation on books- I'm talking about this!

SPICE SCALE:
🌶️– segsual language and a little on-page action / fade to black

🌶️🌶️– a lot of segsual language and some on-page open door action, may be occurring a couple of times

🌶️🌶️🌶️– a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently with 2/3 lurvers

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – super graphic and explicit, occurring 4 or more times, can be more grey and taboo themed.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – Kinks and Fet!shism, explicit and super graphic. It is likely to be tushy play, toys, playrooms, and more dark / taboo fantasies and realities.

Read full review on ARC Library