Isolde de Lara sees her marriage as the end of her life. She is supposed to wed the vampire ruler, Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev, to stop a long war and plans to eliminate him. However, when she fails to kill him, Adrian warns her that if she tries again, he will turn her into a vampire, the very creature she despises. Isolde looks for other ways to resist him and stay alive in the harsh world of vampires.
However, what really scares her is not the vampire court; it is Adrian himself. They have a strong attraction, but she cannot understand why such a fierce and ruthless king would want her as his partner. The truth could completely change everything she believes in.
Review
Today, I want to talk about a fantasy romance book I recently read, king of battle and blood. It seems that is all I have been reading since the start of the year. I think my mood reader is getting back at me for not being a fan of the genre before.
Here is a funny thing about me: I sometimes mix up book covers that look alike. So, I started this King of Battle and Blood book, thinking it was a different one. I had the right story summary in mind, but I thought it was for a book with a different age rating. I expected a young adult to a new adult level of mature content.
Boy, was I wrong? Not even a quarter into the book, King of Battle and Blood, and things get very steamy. It does not stop. Just a heads up: this book is for 18 and over and might be the most explicit book I have read so far. To put it in book community terms, this book is spicier than a 5-chilli rating.
But it’s a vampire romance, so a bit of extra steaminess is expected.
I have to give credit to the author, however. She balances the explicit content and the plot well. She remembers to keep the story going and does not let the mature scenes take over (which would not be my cup of tea).
I know the explicit content might turn some readers off, which is a bit disappointing. King of Battle and Blood is a great book with an interesting mythology, well-developed characters, and a good story. It deserves more readers.
However, it is what it is. I still enjoyed it because it had a lot more to offer.
St. Clair’s tale is a mix of classic romance setups like a marriage for convenience and falling for an enemy. It also includes some of my favorite story twists, like uncovering false histories, correcting wrong ideas, and a slowly unfolding tale of revenge.
The story has its share of stubbornness, uncertainty, and betrayal, but it is balanced with humour, friendship, and tender moments. The reader often learns secrets before the main character, which is both annoying and exciting as you wait for her to put the pieces together.
The story moves at a pace that keeps you hooked, and St. Clair’s world, inspired by Eastern European and Slavic myths, reminds me a lot of The Witcher and Castlevania.
The real highlight is the growth of the main female character. She is stubborn and slow to change her views or accept her feelings for the vampire she is supposed to marry to save her people. However, this makes her feel real. She has spent her life believing one thing, only to learn it is not true, all while feeling the pressure from others who still believe the old ways.
It is easy to criticize her for not adapting quickly, but when you consider everything she is dealing with, you start to appreciate the depth of the author’s character-building.
Scarlett St. Clair deserves applause for creating a believable protagonist, not just for drama’s sake. The main relationship starts off one-sided, with Isolde being somewhat hypocritical, but it evolves into a strong partnership where both are seen as equals.
Isolde is a queen in every sense, confident, stylish, and full of energy. She avoids becoming a stereotype, refuses to be tamed, and knows her value as a leader and warrior. However, she is also too kind and learns that putting her people first is not always the best choice. By the end, her character arc reaches an impressive peak, and I have a lot of respect for that.
Here is where the story gets even more interesting.
St. Clair introduces a character so strong that she needs someone equally impressive, and King Adrian, the vampire, is just that. He is more than what is needed, supporting his wife, Isolde, without hesitation, even when she acts out in court. He is proud of her warrior spirit and stands by her actions.
He makes it clear that Isolde is a fighter before anything else, warning others to remember this if they dare challenge her. He supports her decisions, and if she decides to show mercy, he respects it, but he will not hesitate to act if she does not.
This amused me because of the book’s description, and Isolde, the main character, paints King Adrian as a terrible monster hungry for power and blood. However, in reality, he is the complete opposite. He respects women greatly, never belittles Isolde, treats her with kindness, and is always polite and honest. He is devoted to her, doing everything she asks without expecting anything in return, even before they are married.
He does not want just a wife; he wants a queen to rule alongside him. He is always considerate of her consent and is not upset when she tries to harm him; he is just let down.
I am getting a bit too excited, and this review is quite long, so I will just say one more thing about how much I value consent. It is always important, no matter the situation. I really appreciate that in this vampire story, asking for permission is a big deal because of their past. It is a great aspect of the book.
Conclusion
To sum it up, King of Battle and Blood might not be for everyone because it is quite steamy, but it is also filled with magical creatures, vampires who might be misunderstood, old spells, and secrets. There is also a great group of other characters who support the main two, who could become the ultimate power couple in the next book.
I am really looking forward to reading Queen of Myth and Monsters coming out this December.
