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The Quatrefoil Chronicles #1
Of Wicked Blood
No rest for the wicked... or the cursed.
SLATE
I didn’t mean to steal the Bloodstone from the De Morel’s crypt.
Scratch that, I did mean to steal it.
Until I realized it was a curse-magnet that only comes off if I, along with a jolly trio, successfully defeat four curses.
If any of us fail, I’m dead.
I’ve never been a glass half-empty sort of person, but my glass looks in dire need of a refill right about now.
The only highlight of this wicked treasure hunt: feisty, entitled Cadence de Morel.
CADENCE
I was raised on tales of magic, in a small town reputed to be the birthplace of French witchcraft.
Did I believe all the stories I heard? Absolutely not. I mean, if magic existed, Maman wouldn’t have died, and Papa wouldn’t be stuck in a wheelchair, right?
Wrong.
The night Slate Ardoin waltzes into my life, wearing a ring he stole from my mother’s grave, I call him a monster.
But then I meet real ones, and Slate, well . . . he becomes something else to me.
Something frustrating to live with but impossible to live without.
Something I will fight for, no matter the cost.
*Warning: profuse cursing (and not just the magical kind).
SLATE
I didn’t mean to steal the Bloodstone from the De Morel’s crypt.
Scratch that, I did mean to steal it.
Until I realized it was a curse-magnet that only comes off if I, along with a jolly trio, successfully defeat four curses.
If any of us fail, I’m dead.
I’ve never been a glass half-empty sort of person, but my glass looks in dire need of a refill right about now.
The only highlight of this wicked treasure hunt: feisty, entitled Cadence de Morel.
CADENCE
I was raised on tales of magic, in a small town reputed to be the birthplace of French witchcraft.
Did I believe all the stories I heard? Absolutely not. I mean, if magic existed, Maman wouldn’t have died, and Papa wouldn’t be stuck in a wheelchair, right?
Wrong.
The night Slate Ardoin waltzes into my life, wearing a ring he stole from my mother’s grave, I call him a monster.
But then I meet real ones, and Slate, well . . . he becomes something else to me.
Something frustrating to live with but impossible to live without.
Something I will fight for, no matter the cost.
*Warning: profuse cursing (and not just the magical kind).
424 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 2021
About the author
Olivia Wildenstein
51 books3,894 followersOlivia is a USA Today best-selling author of romantasy. When she’s not swooning over her characters’ steamy escapades, or plotting their demise, you can find her sipping wine and crafting her next twisted, romantic masterpiece, all while trying to convince her children and leading man that she loves them more than her laptop.
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Ready to fall in love? Sign up to her Newsletter to claim your FREEBIE: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/hmniv0406r
WEBSITE: http://oliviawildenstein.com
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/olives21/
TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@owildwrites
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TWITTER: https://twitter.com/OWildWrites
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 582 reviews
November 20, 2020
fans of urban fantasy will devour this. its very shadowhunters by way of 'the gilded wolves.'
while i am not really an urban fantasy person myself, i can see how this story will appeal to most fans of the genre - it has a french dark academia setting, an array of interesting characters, and a unique magic system.
however, i feel a bit let down by the plot and progression of the story. i dont think it was the writing that lost my interest (even though it has a weird quality of feeling both slow and fast paced at the same time). i just dont think i was ever invested in the purpose of the characters and what they had to do. there are many other books who do the 'gang of kids on a mission' trope so much better, so i unfortunately compared a lot throughout.
overall, not the best or worst book ive ever read, but i do think a lot of people will find this story to be their exact cup of tea.
thanks to twig publishing for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
while i am not really an urban fantasy person myself, i can see how this story will appeal to most fans of the genre - it has a french dark academia setting, an array of interesting characters, and a unique magic system.
however, i feel a bit let down by the plot and progression of the story. i dont think it was the writing that lost my interest (even though it has a weird quality of feeling both slow and fast paced at the same time). i just dont think i was ever invested in the purpose of the characters and what they had to do. there are many other books who do the 'gang of kids on a mission' trope so much better, so i unfortunately compared a lot throughout.
overall, not the best or worst book ive ever read, but i do think a lot of people will find this story to be their exact cup of tea.
thanks to twig publishing for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
July 27, 2021
Great story, not so great ending!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💜💙
Heat/Steam: N/A
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 😞😙🥸😎😍
The Setting: Brume, Great Britain
The heroine: Cadence Del Morel - from one of the founding families of Brume and an ancestor of Viviene Del Morel who is said to have trapped the wizard Merlin in a cave, under a rock in the neighboring forest. The town of Brume is said to be the birthplace of Magic and the residents celebrate new years by dressing as witches and warlocks. Though Cadence doesn’t believe in magic.
The Hero: Slate Ardoin (a.k.a. Remy Roland) - grew up in foster care and had a difficult childhood. He finds out that he is the son of a founding family of Brume when he gets a letter and a scholarship to the local college. He is quite angry to find out that he wasn’t given away as a baby, his parents are dead and he has money. Cadence’s father knew about him but left him in foster care and didn’t contact him till now.
The love story: Slate shows up on New Year’s eve and is attracted to Cadence right away. Cadence thinks she is in love with a man she grew up with named Adrian though Adrian has a girlfriend.
Slate is jaded from growing up in foster care and Cadence is a good girl who grew up as the apple of her father’s eye.
Both Slate and Cadence find out at the same time that they need to be involved in an ancient rite along with the other two descendants of founding families, Adrian and a woman named Gaelle. They must each go through a very dangerous trial in order to restore magic and save Slate from a curse.
The story is good though and I like fantasy books, especially when they take place in contemporary times. I like the fact that their parents went through similar trials when they were very young and people were hurt and killed. It adds to both the story and the suspense. Like all fantasy books, the romance is secondary to the main story, so it was a bit of a slow burn but I liked the fact that you could really see early on how they felt about each other.
The trials were good, with each one getting progressively more dangerous. I liked the backstory but didn’t really understand everyone’s motivations, especially Cadence’s father. He does some strange things and his motivations seem to be that he wants to bring magic back so he can be cured since he is in a wheelchair. However, we find out something that makes that seem less likely.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💜💙
Heat/Steam: N/A
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 😞😙🥸😎😍
The Setting: Brume, Great Britain
The heroine: Cadence Del Morel - from one of the founding families of Brume and an ancestor of Viviene Del Morel who is said to have trapped the wizard Merlin in a cave, under a rock in the neighboring forest. The town of Brume is said to be the birthplace of Magic and the residents celebrate new years by dressing as witches and warlocks. Though Cadence doesn’t believe in magic.
The Hero: Slate Ardoin (a.k.a. Remy Roland) - grew up in foster care and had a difficult childhood. He finds out that he is the son of a founding family of Brume when he gets a letter and a scholarship to the local college. He is quite angry to find out that he wasn’t given away as a baby, his parents are dead and he has money. Cadence’s father knew about him but left him in foster care and didn’t contact him till now.
The love story: Slate shows up on New Year’s eve and is attracted to Cadence right away. Cadence thinks she is in love with a man she grew up with named Adrian though Adrian has a girlfriend.
Slate is jaded from growing up in foster care and Cadence is a good girl who grew up as the apple of her father’s eye.
Both Slate and Cadence find out at the same time that they need to be involved in an ancient rite along with the other two descendants of founding families, Adrian and a woman named Gaelle. They must each go through a very dangerous trial in order to restore magic and save Slate from a curse.
The story is good though and I like fantasy books, especially when they take place in contemporary times. I like the fact that their parents went through similar trials when they were very young and people were hurt and killed. It adds to both the story and the suspense. Like all fantasy books, the romance is secondary to the main story, so it was a bit of a slow burn but I liked the fact that you could really see early on how they felt about each other.
The trials were good, with each one getting progressively more dangerous. I liked the backstory but didn’t really understand everyone’s motivations, especially Cadence’s father. He does some strange things and his motivations seem to be that he wants to bring magic back so he can be cured since he is in a wheelchair. However, we find out something that makes that seem less likely.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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July 27, 2021
NEWS:
OF WICKED BLOOD is FREE until July 31 2021 > https://readerlinks.com/l/1429836
Chat with us on our dedicated FB reader group, THE O. K. CREW > http://bit.ly/OKC-FB
Watch the book trailer here > https://bit.ly/2FTlCg9
OF WICKED BLOOD is FREE until July 31 2021 > https://readerlinks.com/l/1429836
Chat with us on our dedicated FB reader group, THE O. K. CREW > http://bit.ly/OKC-FB
Watch the book trailer here > https://bit.ly/2FTlCg9
January 19, 2021
I'm so happy for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook, thanks for NetGalley and the publisher.
In this fantastic fantasy with the right amount of magic! We follow Slate, a thief that spend most of his young age in bad foster care homes and had a difficult childhood. However, everyone he knew was about to change when Slate receives a letter with information from a man that explains he needs to go back to Brume where he is originated from, where he belongs. Together with the letter, his birth certificate and his real name "Remy", Slate travels to Brume, a village in France known for its magical history.
In this book, you'll find adventure, romance, magic and discover the secrets hidden by the families in Brume.
The book is definitely a worth reading.
Can't wait for the 2nd book!
In this fantastic fantasy with the right amount of magic! We follow Slate, a thief that spend most of his young age in bad foster care homes and had a difficult childhood. However, everyone he knew was about to change when Slate receives a letter with information from a man that explains he needs to go back to Brume where he is originated from, where he belongs. Together with the letter, his birth certificate and his real name "Remy", Slate travels to Brume, a village in France known for its magical history.
In this book, you'll find adventure, romance, magic and discover the secrets hidden by the families in Brume.
The book is definitely a worth reading.
Can't wait for the 2nd book!
February 3, 2021
“If any of us fail, I’m dead.”
Slate Ardoin is a skilled thief, who spent the majority of his childhood in dreadful care homes. Whilst Cadence De Morel was raised in the town of Brume reputed to be the birthplace of French witchcraft. Everything changes for both Slate and Cadence, when Slate steals a Bloodstone, he gets more than he bargained for. Not only does he get an expensive ring but also the endangerment it puts his life in.
I didn’t know what to expect from the duo of Oliva Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz, all I know is that what I got was definitely not what I was expecting. Both Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz blessed us with a refreshing, gothic twist on urban fantasy.
The descriptive abilities of both authors enabled me to vividly envision the little town of Brume and the enchanting dark, gothic tendencies which embellish the overall setting. I usually dislike the use of multiple narrative perspectives, however the differing perspectives from both Slate and Cadence only enhanced the overall telling of the story. The plot was definitely unique and interesting, the interpretation of the elements pleasantly surprised me too, however I think a massive contributor to my addictiveness in this book is the blossoming romance of Slate and Cadence.
Let us talk about the romance between Slate and Cadence. The intimacy and the contrasting characteristics of both Slate and Cadence complement each other perfectly. Yes, Slate is the cliché bad boy with a damaged background, so I suppose it’s a good job that I love this typical cliché because it only made me adore Slate even more.
There was however one major disappointment in this book and that was the ending. Like what the hell was that? Is that going to stop me from reading the next book of the Quatrefoil Chronicles when it comes out? Absolutely not. I can only hope that the follow up book to this promising series answers all those questions that failed to be answered in the first book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Twig Publishing for the advanced reader copy in return for an honest review.
Overall rating: 3.75 stars⭐
Slate Ardoin is a skilled thief, who spent the majority of his childhood in dreadful care homes. Whilst Cadence De Morel was raised in the town of Brume reputed to be the birthplace of French witchcraft. Everything changes for both Slate and Cadence, when Slate steals a Bloodstone, he gets more than he bargained for. Not only does he get an expensive ring but also the endangerment it puts his life in.
I didn’t know what to expect from the duo of Oliva Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz, all I know is that what I got was definitely not what I was expecting. Both Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz blessed us with a refreshing, gothic twist on urban fantasy.
The descriptive abilities of both authors enabled me to vividly envision the little town of Brume and the enchanting dark, gothic tendencies which embellish the overall setting. I usually dislike the use of multiple narrative perspectives, however the differing perspectives from both Slate and Cadence only enhanced the overall telling of the story. The plot was definitely unique and interesting, the interpretation of the elements pleasantly surprised me too, however I think a massive contributor to my addictiveness in this book is the blossoming romance of Slate and Cadence.
Let us talk about the romance between Slate and Cadence. The intimacy and the contrasting characteristics of both Slate and Cadence complement each other perfectly. Yes, Slate is the cliché bad boy with a damaged background, so I suppose it’s a good job that I love this typical cliché because it only made me adore Slate even more.
There was however one major disappointment in this book and that was the ending. Like what the hell was that? Is that going to stop me from reading the next book of the Quatrefoil Chronicles when it comes out? Absolutely not. I can only hope that the follow up book to this promising series answers all those questions that failed to be answered in the first book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Twig Publishing for the advanced reader copy in return for an honest review.
Overall rating: 3.75 stars⭐
Want to read
March 7, 20217/3/21
Currently 0.99 on Amazon.co.uk
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
13/12/20
I haven't read anything by Katie Hayoz but Olivia Wildenstein has not let me down yet. So
Currently 0.99 on Amazon.co.uk
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
13/12/20
I haven't read anything by Katie Hayoz but Olivia Wildenstein has not let me down yet. So
November 11, 2020
Of wicked blood is a suspense paranormal romance. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the page to find out what happens next.
A world without magic doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Unlocking the secrets to where it’s gone could get you killed.
Slate didn’t know his parents. He had a tough up bringing and it’s hardened his soul. When he has the chance to find out who he really is and a possibility of inheritance he finds his way to trouble. Now he’s fight against the clock to save his live.
Cadence only has her papa. When she learns the truth about her mother a spark of emotions rise in her. Magic needs to be unlocked to stop a deadly curse, but she’s onto Slate. He isn’t the typical good guy
This is a suspense thriller which is full of mystery and action. It’s a slow burn romance and a paranormal series.
Great read. Interesting characters with an engaging plot. 4 out of 5 stars. *I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m a fan of Olivia Wildenstein’s books.
A world without magic doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Unlocking the secrets to where it’s gone could get you killed.
Slate didn’t know his parents. He had a tough up bringing and it’s hardened his soul. When he has the chance to find out who he really is and a possibility of inheritance he finds his way to trouble. Now he’s fight against the clock to save his live.
Cadence only has her papa. When she learns the truth about her mother a spark of emotions rise in her. Magic needs to be unlocked to stop a deadly curse, but she’s onto Slate. He isn’t the typical good guy
This is a suspense thriller which is full of mystery and action. It’s a slow burn romance and a paranormal series.
Great read. Interesting characters with an engaging plot. 4 out of 5 stars. *I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m a fan of Olivia Wildenstein’s books.
Read
September 14, 2020Oh my gosh!! This was my first book by either of these authors and I'm completely hooked. That was so, so good. It had everything I love, and it's PERFECT for this time of year. The spooky French setting, the romance, friendships, mystery, characterizations, ugh! So wonderful!!!
May 16, 2022
Holy Goodness!!
I LOVE when a book makes you feel like you’re inside it and actually living everything that takes place! This book does that right from the beginning, the world building is awesome.
The action and the quest the characters go on is so well written that it reminds me of Harry Potter and Throne of Glass. It was impossible for me to get anything else done because I HAD to know what would happen next. I ended up starting and finishing this book within 24 hours, but it was so worth giving up my precious sleep.
The characters are so easy to fall in love with, and can I just ask where I can get me a Slate? Definitely adding him to my book boyfriends list. Who doesn’t love a funny, sarcastic, hot, bad boy?!?!
I listened to the audio of this book and the narrators were awesome!!
I am looking forward to the next book in this series!!!
A special thanks to Olivia Wildenstein and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this amazing book!!
I LOVE when a book makes you feel like you’re inside it and actually living everything that takes place! This book does that right from the beginning, the world building is awesome.
The action and the quest the characters go on is so well written that it reminds me of Harry Potter and Throne of Glass. It was impossible for me to get anything else done because I HAD to know what would happen next. I ended up starting and finishing this book within 24 hours, but it was so worth giving up my precious sleep.
The characters are so easy to fall in love with, and can I just ask where I can get me a Slate? Definitely adding him to my book boyfriends list. Who doesn’t love a funny, sarcastic, hot, bad boy?!?!
I listened to the audio of this book and the narrators were awesome!!
I am looking forward to the next book in this series!!!
A special thanks to Olivia Wildenstein and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this amazing book!!
February 19, 2021
I received an advance reader copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
**AUDIO BOOK VERSION**
Of Wicked Blood is a suspenseful, magical read with some romance blended within the story.
Slade has been in and out of foster care his whole life and had to survive. He's now a master thief, ruthless to get what he wants and needs. When he receives a letter telling him his birthright, everything changes in his life including his real name.
Slade goes in search of his birthright and meets feisty Cadence de Morel which starts a slow burning romance between the pair. But magic is brewing and both Slade and Cadence end up embroiled within a historical magical adventure with no way out.
This book was fantastic and being an audio book that I reviewed, I was captivated. The narrators did a fantastic job narrating this story and kept me hooked.
**AUDIO BOOK VERSION**
Of Wicked Blood is a suspenseful, magical read with some romance blended within the story.
Slade has been in and out of foster care his whole life and had to survive. He's now a master thief, ruthless to get what he wants and needs. When he receives a letter telling him his birthright, everything changes in his life including his real name.
Slade goes in search of his birthright and meets feisty Cadence de Morel which starts a slow burning romance between the pair. But magic is brewing and both Slade and Cadence end up embroiled within a historical magical adventure with no way out.
This book was fantastic and being an audio book that I reviewed, I was captivated. The narrators did a fantastic job narrating this story and kept me hooked.
October 24, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, I wont lie. Of Wicked Blood did start off pretty slowly for me.. but it picked up a couple of chapters in. Of course, this is when all the sassy and sarcastic comments come into play between Slate and Cadence. At first, they sort of despised one another because of all kinds of miscommunication.
Seriously, there's so many secrets, lies, and miscommunication throughout the entire book. Besides that, there's romance, mystery, and possibly a villain or two. I definitely fell in love with Slate and Cadence. He's a thief and he stole my heart and hers pretty quickly on. Even though they tried to be like.. I just met the guy/girl.. why am I jealous already? Blah blah blah - when you know you know. At least nothing was really insta-anything.
In the end, I'm hoping there's another book coming out soon because I just want more from this group. I want to know what's going to happen in this small town now after everything that has happened. Also, where's that sleazy mayor at? Ugh, so many questions!
Okay, I wont lie. Of Wicked Blood did start off pretty slowly for me.. but it picked up a couple of chapters in. Of course, this is when all the sassy and sarcastic comments come into play between Slate and Cadence. At first, they sort of despised one another because of all kinds of miscommunication.
Seriously, there's so many secrets, lies, and miscommunication throughout the entire book. Besides that, there's romance, mystery, and possibly a villain or two. I definitely fell in love with Slate and Cadence. He's a thief and he stole my heart and hers pretty quickly on. Even though they tried to be like.. I just met the guy/girl.. why am I jealous already? Blah blah blah - when you know you know. At least nothing was really insta-anything.
In the end, I'm hoping there's another book coming out soon because I just want more from this group. I want to know what's going to happen in this small town now after everything that has happened. Also, where's that sleazy mayor at? Ugh, so many questions!
January 15, 2021
There's nothing wrong with this book, I just couldn't get into it.
The story starts with Slate, a young thief, receiving a letter letting him know that he's part of a traditional family from a French village obsessed with witchcraft. He visits the place he was born and ends up stealing a ring from a corpse at the cemetery, and it gets stuck on his finger. The ring has a bloodstone that holds black magic, and Slate needs Cadence, another main character, to help him retrieve the elements that will unlink him from the stone.
I didn't get attached to the characters but I can't pinpoint why exactly. The writing was good, but the adventure aspect of it didn't succeed in grabbing my attention. The narrators have extremely pleasing voices and I was able to listen to both on the same speed.
(NetGalley ARC)
The story starts with Slate, a young thief, receiving a letter letting him know that he's part of a traditional family from a French village obsessed with witchcraft. He visits the place he was born and ends up stealing a ring from a corpse at the cemetery, and it gets stuck on his finger. The ring has a bloodstone that holds black magic, and Slate needs Cadence, another main character, to help him retrieve the elements that will unlink him from the stone.
I didn't get attached to the characters but I can't pinpoint why exactly. The writing was good, but the adventure aspect of it didn't succeed in grabbing my attention. The narrators have extremely pleasing voices and I was able to listen to both on the same speed.
(NetGalley ARC)
February 21, 2021
OF WICKED BLOOD
by Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz
Narrated by Holly Fielding and Thomas Locklear
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book.
This is for the audio book.
I had a hard time getting into this book. I started and restarted it about four times because it wasn't holding my interest. Once it got past a few bumpy parts it got better, some. I liked the supernatural aspects and the overall plot theme. The development of the characters not so much. The main guy and girl characters were annoying and I found myself hoping they didn't make it. There is a fantasy theme with a soft romance thrown in. Teenage angst (annoying), and a know it all attitude covers the main characters.
The male narration was fairly good but the female narration was annoying as the character.
This kind of book is usually right down my alley but it ended up being an okay book. I really wanted to like it.
by Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz
Narrated by Holly Fielding and Thomas Locklear
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book.
This is for the audio book.
I had a hard time getting into this book. I started and restarted it about four times because it wasn't holding my interest. Once it got past a few bumpy parts it got better, some. I liked the supernatural aspects and the overall plot theme. The development of the characters not so much. The main guy and girl characters were annoying and I found myself hoping they didn't make it. There is a fantasy theme with a soft romance thrown in. Teenage angst (annoying), and a know it all attitude covers the main characters.
The male narration was fairly good but the female narration was annoying as the character.
This kind of book is usually right down my alley but it ended up being an okay book. I really wanted to like it.
July 1, 2021
I’ve read several books by Wildenstein and have loved them all so I knew I had to check this bad boy out! This was my first co-authored read by her and I first give major props to both authors because the writing blended super well together! I loved the Slate and Cadence, the unique story, the slow burn romance, and ahhh that ending has me needing book 2! Can you say book hangover!
September 19, 2020
A beautiful elixir of magic, adventure, and slow burn romance, Of Wicked Blood is sure to enchant fantasy readers.
February 26, 2021
Thank you to Oliva Wildenstein and Netgalley for an ALC of this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I wanted to love this book, but it was just fine/good. The first problem was that the Netgalley shelf app distorted the audio quality so horribly, it was impossible to listen to it at the normal speed I listen (over 1x), and listening for long periods of times exacerbated my headaches due to the static and tinniness. Over 2.5x random words would be skipped leaving the audio incomprehensible. All of this stuff are complaints against Netgalley and their app and not the book itself. While this didn't impact how I rated the book, my enjoyment definitely did suffer.
The whole premise of this story--bring back magic by completing four trials--was really cool and I did like that. But the characters, especially Slate and Cadence's father. Ugh. No thank you. Stay at least 100 feet away at all times. Also, everyone was cishet which is so unrealistic.
Slate really annoyed me at times. He was so annoying and ridiculous, I just could not deal with him. The one thing I did like about him was how much he cares for his foster brother, Bastien. All other times he's a complete asshole. I liked Cadence, but I'm so tired of the bad boy + innocent virgin trope. Virginity is literally the stupidest social construct ever and Cadence's was mentioned at least twice. Why is so much stock put into being a virgin or not being one?
Also, for taking place at a school, there was very little classes and school stuff going on. It was more like the search for the Quatrefoil took over everything else.
Overall, I don't think this was for me.
I wanted to love this book, but it was just fine/good. The first problem was that the Netgalley shelf app distorted the audio quality so horribly, it was impossible to listen to it at the normal speed I listen (over 1x), and listening for long periods of times exacerbated my headaches due to the static and tinniness. Over 2.5x random words would be skipped leaving the audio incomprehensible. All of this stuff are complaints against Netgalley and their app and not the book itself. While this didn't impact how I rated the book, my enjoyment definitely did suffer.
The whole premise of this story--bring back magic by completing four trials--was really cool and I did like that. But the characters, especially Slate and Cadence's father. Ugh. No thank you. Stay at least 100 feet away at all times. Also, everyone was cishet which is so unrealistic.
Slate really annoyed me at times. He was so annoying and ridiculous, I just could not deal with him. The one thing I did like about him was how much he cares for his foster brother, Bastien. All other times he's a complete asshole. I liked Cadence, but I'm so tired of the bad boy + innocent virgin trope. Virginity is literally the stupidest social construct ever and Cadence's was mentioned at least twice. Why is so much stock put into being a virgin or not being one?
Also, for taking place at a school, there was very little classes and school stuff going on. It was more like the search for the Quatrefoil took over everything else.
Overall, I don't think this was for me.
September 26, 2020
Bahahahahaha.
How stupid was I to be apprehensive about a book written by co-written by Olivia Wildenstein? Maybe it was because I have such high expectations now from her past works that I'm afraid of being let down.
Bahahahahaha
I shall never be let down by the queen.
This is not to cast a shadow over Katie Hayoz. Her writing is delectable. I have zero experience with her work so suffice it to say, I was astounded by the talent she has.
The characters: Slate and Candace are a sort of enemies to lovers deal without being real enemies but sorta? Hard to say. Anyhow, Candace is a bit cold and Slate is sometimes crass, but an overall good guy who got a bum deal by putting on a cursed ring. Candance comes from an entirely different background than Slate so their clashing makes for good drama.
The story: The story is unique. Set in France, we get a lot of the school and surrounding area. I'm a sucker for books set in France, but I do wish we got more of the local haunts and people to get a better idea of the area. I also wish we got more of the squad and their relationships with our main characters. But I am sure the sequel will bring it all to light.
I follow Olivia in her FB group and on her personal FB and I just love who she is as a person and an author. She is author goals, let me tell you. Katie Hayoz is a new obsession for me, so I expect I will be haunting her social media platforms stat.
Thank you to the authors for the chance to review this book ahead of its release date.
How stupid was I to be apprehensive about a book written by co-written by Olivia Wildenstein? Maybe it was because I have such high expectations now from her past works that I'm afraid of being let down.
Bahahahahaha
I shall never be let down by the queen.
This is not to cast a shadow over Katie Hayoz. Her writing is delectable. I have zero experience with her work so suffice it to say, I was astounded by the talent she has.
The characters: Slate and Candace are a sort of enemies to lovers deal without being real enemies but sorta? Hard to say. Anyhow, Candace is a bit cold and Slate is sometimes crass, but an overall good guy who got a bum deal by putting on a cursed ring. Candance comes from an entirely different background than Slate so their clashing makes for good drama.
The story: The story is unique. Set in France, we get a lot of the school and surrounding area. I'm a sucker for books set in France, but I do wish we got more of the local haunts and people to get a better idea of the area. I also wish we got more of the squad and their relationships with our main characters. But I am sure the sequel will bring it all to light.
I follow Olivia in her FB group and on her personal FB and I just love who she is as a person and an author. She is author goals, let me tell you. Katie Hayoz is a new obsession for me, so I expect I will be haunting her social media platforms stat.
Thank you to the authors for the chance to review this book ahead of its release date.
October 20, 2020
I was not prepared for this book. It started out okay and then bam, sucked me right in! The magical realism is done in a cool way and I liked that there are four characters that all have a challenge to complete. The romance was also fun and I definitely have a new ship.
Slate is a great character, he's a thief who's clawed his way out of poverty to a life of luxury. He does some morally gray things, but he clearly loves his little brother Bastien and would do anything for him. He falls for Cadence pretty quickly, though she doesn't give in right away. Slate has to atone for something he did and works hard to get Cadence to see who he really is.
The quatrefoil quest was interesting and the challenges the characters faced were pretty cool. The action kept the story moving and the romance filled the in between spaces. I'm really excited for the sequel to see what happens next!
I received this advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Slate is a great character, he's a thief who's clawed his way out of poverty to a life of luxury. He does some morally gray things, but he clearly loves his little brother Bastien and would do anything for him. He falls for Cadence pretty quickly, though she doesn't give in right away. Slate has to atone for something he did and works hard to get Cadence to see who he really is.
The quatrefoil quest was interesting and the challenges the characters faced were pretty cool. The action kept the story moving and the romance filled the in between spaces. I'm really excited for the sequel to see what happens next!
I received this advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
November 24, 2020
This was one of the best books I read in 2020!
It was perfectly paced and the characters and storyline were fresh and well developed. I'm eagerly waiting the next book in the series!
It was perfectly paced and the characters and storyline were fresh and well developed. I'm eagerly waiting the next book in the series!
November 3, 2020
Review originally posted on My Bookish Escapades.
So... I just read one of the best books of 2020. Holy freakin' heck. This book was wickedly good and absolutely addictive! I'm gonna need book two asap!
I've read quite a few books from Olivia Wildenstein but I have yet to read anything written by Katie Hayoz. (Rest assured the latter will be remedied immediately after finishing this review.) I did not know what to expect from this duo but what I got? What I got was a brilliant book with amazing writing, a unique and compelling plot, swoony romance, and lovable, complex characters. This book surprised me in a really good way and I just want to read it again.
You guys, I just found myself a new book boyfriend in Slate. Loved him from the start and I just fell in love with him harder the farther I got. Cadence was absolutely lovable! I love her love for books and history. I love her loyalty, her tenacity, and her strength. A girl after my own heart. And can I just say the banter and chemistry between Cadence and Slate? Swoon.
The book didn't exactly end on a cliffhanger but there were still so many unanswered questions. I have a terrible feeling something more terrible is going to happen. I don't know what to expect from the sequel but I'm so excited to find out! I need more of the Quatrefoil gang in my life!
When is book two coming?
I received an e-arc from Netgalley to read and review.
So... I just read one of the best books of 2020. Holy freakin' heck. This book was wickedly good and absolutely addictive! I'm gonna need book two asap!
I've read quite a few books from Olivia Wildenstein but I have yet to read anything written by Katie Hayoz. (Rest assured the latter will be remedied immediately after finishing this review.) I did not know what to expect from this duo but what I got? What I got was a brilliant book with amazing writing, a unique and compelling plot, swoony romance, and lovable, complex characters. This book surprised me in a really good way and I just want to read it again.
You guys, I just found myself a new book boyfriend in Slate. Loved him from the start and I just fell in love with him harder the farther I got. Cadence was absolutely lovable! I love her love for books and history. I love her loyalty, her tenacity, and her strength. A girl after my own heart. And can I just say the banter and chemistry between Cadence and Slate? Swoon.
The book didn't exactly end on a cliffhanger but there were still so many unanswered questions. I have a terrible feeling something more terrible is going to happen. I don't know what to expect from the sequel but I'm so excited to find out! I need more of the Quatrefoil gang in my life!
When is book two coming?
I received an e-arc from Netgalley to read and review.
September 11, 2020
This not a quick read. You need to take your time and really dive into the story. While it is a slower pace than I am used to it was a great read. The characters were very realistic given the book was based on curses and magic. I could picture the town quite well. Wildenstein crafted a story from the beginnings of the lore to the present with a lot of details. The romance is slight with the main story being the curse and search for each of the descendant leaves. Perfect to pick up and sit by the fire this fall and get lost in a lore rich story.
December 17, 2020
There are so many things that I loved about Of Wicked Blood by authors Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz! Set in the village of Brume, misty and magical, and said to be the birthplace of all magic, Brume itself feels like a main character. It’s here that we meet Cadence de Morel, one of the narrators. Cadence and her family have a deeply rooted history in Brume; her ancestor is rumored to have trapped Merlin the Wizard in a cave just outside the town in a mystical forest. The other narrator, Slate, is a hard-scrabble hottie who has been in the foster care system for most of his life. A professional thief, he’s tough on the outside but has a heart of gold, morally gray but easy to love.
Slate receives a letter from Cadence’s father inviting him to Brume, a letter that’s impossible to ignore. He arrives in the midst of a traditional Brume New Year’s celebration of magic and meets Cadence. His anger at Cadence’s father for withholding information from him and leaving him in the system leads him to the de Morel crypt where he sets off a chain of events that could bring magic back in to the world but could also kill the descendants of Brume’s founding families. And Slate, himself, if the quests aren’t fulfilled. Past Brume history doesn’t bode well!
The world-building is fabulous; the Quatrefoil is the symbol used for the magic borne in Brume many centuries before and it is seen everywhere in the town and holds a great significance both in the story and the magical quests. There is a Quatrefoil quest that must be completed by a descendant of each founding family where each will find their ‘piece’ of the Quatrefoil. Each quest was pretty hairy and scary, full of action and suspense. I want to point out that there’s some LOL humor that I really appreciated; it bonds the characters to me when they make me laugh, even in the grimmest of situations.
“Me, scared? I’m not scared.” “Your nostrils flare when you’re panicked. And right now, experts could go spelunking in those hairy canyons.’ I put a hand to my nose. Really?”
The secondary characters are just as well-developed and emotive as the main, I loved getting to know their stories and peeking in to what life is like in Brume. It’s a fast-moving plot with just the right amount of action, romance and magic to keep me turning the pages until the end. Which, dang, seriously? Why? Just why you gotta do me this way?
Needless to say, I will be reading the next in the series as soon as it hits the presses!
Slate receives a letter from Cadence’s father inviting him to Brume, a letter that’s impossible to ignore. He arrives in the midst of a traditional Brume New Year’s celebration of magic and meets Cadence. His anger at Cadence’s father for withholding information from him and leaving him in the system leads him to the de Morel crypt where he sets off a chain of events that could bring magic back in to the world but could also kill the descendants of Brume’s founding families. And Slate, himself, if the quests aren’t fulfilled. Past Brume history doesn’t bode well!
The world-building is fabulous; the Quatrefoil is the symbol used for the magic borne in Brume many centuries before and it is seen everywhere in the town and holds a great significance both in the story and the magical quests. There is a Quatrefoil quest that must be completed by a descendant of each founding family where each will find their ‘piece’ of the Quatrefoil. Each quest was pretty hairy and scary, full of action and suspense. I want to point out that there’s some LOL humor that I really appreciated; it bonds the characters to me when they make me laugh, even in the grimmest of situations.
“Me, scared? I’m not scared.” “Your nostrils flare when you’re panicked. And right now, experts could go spelunking in those hairy canyons.’ I put a hand to my nose. Really?”
The secondary characters are just as well-developed and emotive as the main, I loved getting to know their stories and peeking in to what life is like in Brume. It’s a fast-moving plot with just the right amount of action, romance and magic to keep me turning the pages until the end. Which, dang, seriously? Why? Just why you gotta do me this way?
Needless to say, I will be reading the next in the series as soon as it hits the presses!
September 6, 2020
A whirlwind of humor and romance and adventure. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it with Olivia!
March 13, 2021
Absolutely fantastic start to a new series! I adored this book so much and cannot wait to continue with Of Tainted Heart when it comes out next year.
Of Wicked Blood follows Slate Ardoin who has not had the easiest childhood in the foster system but he has now made a comfortable life for himself. He was not expecting to find out that his parents did not abandon him as he once thought but that they died. He was not expecting to find out that they had left him money. The letter tells him he must go to the town of Brume to arrange settling these matters and he intends to do this as quickly as possible and get back to his own life. Is anything ever that easy? After some poor life choices on arrival in Brume he is in possession of a cursed ring that he stole from a family crypt and now needs help from that family to rid himself of it...AWKWARD.
Cadence de Morel is none too impressed with the man who looted her family crypt and yet it seems she will now have to help him as he has unwittingly set off a chain of events that no one was prepared for.
This book has it all:
1) Great characters that you can't help but love (or hate). The characters are well fleshed out and enjoyable to read about
2) Exciting plot that has you speeding through the pages. The story follows Slate, Cadence and Co as they try and rid Slate of his cursed ring and possibly complete a quest never before been achieved.
3) Budding romance between uptight and reserved Cadence and maverick Slate
4) Excellent humour that is very reminiscent of early season Buffy and very much to my taste
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Since reading it I have purchased a physical copy as this book needed to be on my shelves.
Of Wicked Blood follows Slate Ardoin who has not had the easiest childhood in the foster system but he has now made a comfortable life for himself. He was not expecting to find out that his parents did not abandon him as he once thought but that they died. He was not expecting to find out that they had left him money. The letter tells him he must go to the town of Brume to arrange settling these matters and he intends to do this as quickly as possible and get back to his own life. Is anything ever that easy? After some poor life choices on arrival in Brume he is in possession of a cursed ring that he stole from a family crypt and now needs help from that family to rid himself of it...AWKWARD.
Cadence de Morel is none too impressed with the man who looted her family crypt and yet it seems she will now have to help him as he has unwittingly set off a chain of events that no one was prepared for.
This book has it all:
1) Great characters that you can't help but love (or hate). The characters are well fleshed out and enjoyable to read about
2) Exciting plot that has you speeding through the pages. The story follows Slate, Cadence and Co as they try and rid Slate of his cursed ring and possibly complete a quest never before been achieved.
3) Budding romance between uptight and reserved Cadence and maverick Slate
4) Excellent humour that is very reminiscent of early season Buffy and very much to my taste
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Since reading it I have purchased a physical copy as this book needed to be on my shelves.
December 5, 2021
This was so good. Stop. The ending, ahhhh. I’m just screaming at the book like why does anyone, ANYONE trust dear old papa. *screams all profanities*
November 3, 2021
So at the beginning of this book I was intrigued, then in the middle I was really bugged and disenchanted, but the end brought me back a little more. There is a fun story going on and a cute little town. Pretty quickly you figure out it is going to be one of those journey books where the heroes need to accomplish certain tasks so it feels a little boring once that comes out. But even though you basically knew where things were going, it was still a fun ride. The story follows two main characters and it changes back and fourth between them every chapter.
I only had two main problems with the book. First, one of the main characters is rather vulgar. He curses a lot, which they do warn you about, so I do get that, but sometimes he just acted pessimistic and self deprecating. All of that combined made it rather annoying at times. However, after a while I liked him more, but I was never really absolutely loved him. That leads me to the second thing I disliked most and that would be the narrators (I listened to the audiobook). I mean, there was nothing wrong with them, but I just didn't like either voices. It really disrupted me sometimes and I would be jolted out of the story by their voices. So this might be a better one to read instead of listen too.
But now that the book is over I really wish I had the second one. The beautiful magical town the world is set in is so cute and cozy! I want to live there. It feels like Oxford, Harry Potter, and the French countryside combined. For some reason it also reminded me a bit of the Ruby Red series, which I loved!
SPOILERS >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Nothing really surprised me much in this series. Like I said earlier, right at the beginning you find out that each of them has to overcome a task to get the magical leaf token. So you know that the book is just going to follow the four of them getting it and then bringing magic back. There was no doubt in my mind they were going to accomplish this. So when it came to them actually doing their tasks I would kind of zone out a bit. I didn't like that it was so road mapped out.
One thing I didn't expect was the ending. I expected Cadence to wake up last minute and they would put the pieces together. The fact that we don't know how it all worked out is a bit of a twist. Although I do have some theories, and they may be a bit conspiracy theorist.
So I've thought about this a lot. When Cadence first came out of the hospital chasing after Slate and they find out the ring fell of his finger, Cadence's dad was really quiet. At first I thought it was because he died. I thought he realized that Cadence cared so much about Slate and he decided to be a good guy and sacrifice himself. Even though it might curse him more, he would grab the token and put it in the quatrefoil to save Slate. But then he actually spoke and I realized he wasn't slumped over in his chair dead, so then I thought it had to be something else. But then I remembered that he told Slate a few hours before to go jump off the roof and it looked like Slate was going to do it. And we know the dad really wanted magic back. So maybe he was still going to go save the magic, but he wanted Slate dead and away from his daughter. So when he thought Slate was going to go kill himself he went and fixed the quatrefoil himself. But then he came back and Slate was outside and he realized he hadn't killed himself.
Did you keep up with all that. Yeah, confusing, but that is my conspiracy theory. I mean I hope its not something like they finished all the tasks so the magic still worked. I can't believe I read this so early! Now I am going to have to wait forever to find out what happens next!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Re-read: this time I read the book (yes, my faecrate special edition which is beautiful!) and I really got a lot more out of it. I enjoyed it the first time I read it, but I really loved it the second time. The two main problems I had didn't matter as much. I loved Slate, whereas in the first one he grew on me, but I never loved him. Boy was I wrong. I just think the narrators weren't putting me off a bit.
But I am so glad I did a re-read before going on in the series, because it was great!
October 29, 2020
Of Wicked Blood was a pretty interesting book set in a town where once upon a time magic was real but when things went wrong, magic was banished. But, Cadence's dad is determined to get magic back by finding the four "leaves". However, each leaf is dangerous to the four people that will try to find them but also to by-standers. All Remy want is to get out of this town. However, after stealing a cursed ring and putting it on his finger, it's literally impossible for him to leave this town. The only way he'll be free (and survive) is if he, Cadence and two other people manage to get the leaves.
Overall, this book was pretty good but it took me way too long to get through it. Me being so slow kind of took some of the enjoyment out of my reading after a while and it frustrated me. However, I liked the romance between Cadence and Remy and it kept my attention. I'm a bit apprehensive to read the second book and I hope that Cadence won't deny what is clearly going to happen . We'll see :)
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
Overall, this book was pretty good but it took me way too long to get through it. Me being so slow kind of took some of the enjoyment out of my reading after a while and it frustrated me. However, I liked the romance between Cadence and Remy and it kept my attention. I'm a bit apprehensive to read the second book and I hope that Cadence won't deny what is clearly going to happen . We'll see :)
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
January 16, 2021
Oh my!!! I do not know of any words to do this book justice, utter masterpiece would be putting it lightly. I completely fell down the rabbit hole and literally lost a day, as it was painful to put the book down. The story completely sucks you in and the world building is phenomenal. My only disappointments are the first since I was lucky enough to receive an arc copy of an e-book, I am not able to close the book and let it grace my book shelf just yet. The second that I now have the excruciating wait of being able to continue the story. You ladies have certainly outsone yourselves and the collaboration is beautifully amazing. Thank you for the wonderful escape into the world of Brume, I hope the wait is not to long for book numer 2!!! Putain, what a phenomenally breathtaking work of art!
March 29, 2020
WOHOOOOW I can’t believe I came across this one!!! I can already tell that this trilogy is going to be SOOO GOOOOD. Olivia is a writing queen and blows my mind every single time. She’s definetly in my top 3!!!! Lovely readers, if you haven’t read The Lost Clan series, MAKEN SURE YOU DO!!! I promise, you will fall in love with it just as much as I did!!As for this book, I CAN NOT WAIT...I NEED A PLOT, A DATE, A COVER! I JUST NEED THIS BOOK!!! Dear Olivia, can’t wait to read another masterpiece by you!! Lots of love
September 10, 2020
I got an ARC of this book and I can honestly not wait for everyone to get their hands on this series starter!
I will say I’m so frustrated with the ending, BUT only because I just need to know what happens next (y’all know someone’s dad has got some explaining to do). I do not trust the guy.
But...
Anyways Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz make a fantastic team! This is so well blended and works so good I’m in love with this series already!
I will say I’m so frustrated with the ending, BUT only because I just need to know what happens next (y’all know someone’s dad has got some explaining to do). I do not trust the guy.
But...
Anyways Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz make a fantastic team! This is so well blended and works so good I’m in love with this series already!
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