The Blood Princess (The Bonds That Bind Us, #1) (2024)

Let me tell you. The way this book had a hold on me y’all. I was hooked from the beginning. I started the book and noticed the dedication which was dedicated to everyone struggling with mental health. Then I notice that the author included a section with pronunciations of everything from characters to clans to places. I knew right then that this was gonna be a good book. I read the first line and I was hooked.

I had trouble recognizing who was an ally and who was the enemy as I was reading but once I got to the end I realized I was missing signs left and right. My favorite character was Daijiro. He had ‘touch her and die’ energy and it was top tier. This book was mostly a set up for future books from what I can tell and I’m so excited to see what’s to come with the next of this series.

Sulwyn is the Lady Princess of Vartugaul, but she holds very little power. Even though she is the biological daughter of King Artaxiad and Queen Pandora, Sulwyn has only recently taken her rightful place as heir. Her parents did not raise her; she was “stolen” from the corrupt rulers of Vartugaul and has spent most of her life with a man named Rhagnall, who raised Sulwyn as they were pursued for their secret identities - the Steel Warrior and Kintana, revered defenders of the common people and protectors of their interests.

When she is betrayed by someone she holds dear, Sulwyn is forced to take her place at court and as the Lady Princess. Although Sulwyn’s parents are the rulers of a very powerful empire, they do not care about the wants and needs of the common people, something Sulwyn is determined to change. But life at court is not so simple, and there are those who are displeased by Sulwyn’s “miraculous” return…

Okay, so first of all, I want to say that SA Gonsalves is a new-to-me author, but oh my gosh, she does not disappoint! “The Blood Princess” captured my attention from the very first page; the world building is absolutely exquisite, and Vartugaul’s politics are complex and well thought out. The characters all serve a purpose, even ones you think may not be important. There are corrupt characters that I loved to hate, and there are noble characters that I just plain loved, admired, and was cheering on.

Let’s talk about the Lady Princess Sulwyn, the FMC of this novel, for a second. I really respect Sulwyn for a variety of reasons, but for me, the most admirable thing about her is that she genuinely cares about ALL of her subjects, not just the nobility and the wealthy. Maybe it’s because she wasn’t raised by her corrupt parents, and grew up far away from the court, but Sulwyn doesn’t act entitled simply because she is royalty. I also love the fact that she isn’t the simpering damsel in distress type. Sulwyn can hold her own, whether it’s a battle of wits or a trial of combat. All in all, I’m very excited that I’ve discovered this series and this author. I would definitely recommend this book to all fantasy lovers!

Long read but worth it! I was hooked because you truly get to connect with the characters and learn about them. Which makes this story better because you are so much more invested!

I’ve been on a fantasy reading BINGE lately and this book checked all the boxes for me. I think that one thing about books in this genre is that they can go a little overboard with the romance and it tends to sacrifice the protagonist's character development. However, the author made sure to keep that integrity and truly let her have her independence throughout the book. Also, this is somewhat of a face-paced story ( after the first couple of chapters) so if you’re anything like me and have 0 self-control when reading something good, I’d suggest you don’t start it at midnight if you have work/school the next day.
In terms of the storyline, I appreciated how the side characters are not just fillers and background noise. They are their 'own' people in the book and it’s refreshing to see how they play a role in the overall story. However, I would say to try not to get too attached to anyone in particular - just a fair warning. As another heads up, I’d have to say that this book has some slightly more mature elements in it, so I would say it is at least 15+. Also, with any other fantasy novel, you have to keep up with people's names/ titles and a little bit of the geography, but the author has a map at the beginning of the book and an index at the end which is nice to reference every once in a while. Overall, the book was a great read and I am so freakin’ excited for the next one to come out!!

The Blood Princess was a book I picked up at my local book fair (Stephanie is the absolute loveliest in person!!) and started reading over the Christmas break. Immediately I was blown away by how much I loved the main character's strength and resilience to the situation she's thrown into right from the beginning of the book! Stephanie creates a world that's easy to understand, to see when you close your eyes, and one where you never want to leave it.

The book deals with some political issues but mostly it's a story about the female main characters growth into becoming who's she's meant to be. This is book one of a series, so it does end in a cliffhanger that leaves the reader wanting to know what happens next to all their favourites! My personal favourite character was definitely Raghnall, who doesn't appear as much in book one, but I have high hopes he'll appear more in book two! All the characters have complex issues they deal with both on their own and with each other, Stephanie does a great job in weaving everybody and everything together, which allows the flow of this book to work really well!

This is definitely an author and book series to watch out for! Fantasy lovers, this is definitely a book for you!

Thanks to the generosity of S. A. Gonsalves and Katie & Brey PA, I was recently given a copy of The Blood Princess to review! This YA fantasy is a deliciously dark & twisted story of evil, tragedy & unexpected heroism. And (spoiler alert) I’ve had the best of times reading it!

Within The Blood Princess, Sulwyn is a young woman bringing hope to the populace under the name of Kintana. But when Sulwyn’s betrayed, she’s captured & taken before the King & Queen of the Empire, her parents. Left to die as a child, Sulwyn is now a useful pawn in their game of tyranny & her plans for escape are thwarted at every turn. Is it possible for Sulwyn to bring down the Empire from within? Will anyone help her fight for freedom? Can anyone be trusted, when even her mentor betrayed her in the end?

The Blood Princess kept me guessing until the very end, & I couldn’t be happier about that. I swear Sulwyn has the absolute worst luck, but this YA fantasy is an incredible tale. Give me the tumultuous heartache & danger. I’m here for it!

With morally grey characters like Daijiro, I’m head over heels in love with Gonsalves’ writing. Sometimes we’re not sure what side these characters will land on, & I really enjoy when there’s uncertainty like this. I also have to mention Taru, because he was like a breath of fresh air. He’s not morally grey, he’s just chaotic (in the best way)!

This book takes you on the most tumultuous journey, & will leave your heart aching. It is *so* well written, I am going to be following (& buying) everything Gonsalves gives us. Because this is special.

To see my full review you can head to my blog post here: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/the-b...

An A for effort and genuine plot that actually gripped me but the rest? Although I enjoyed the book and I will for sure want to read the next one (please- the cliffhanger emotionally killed me), I found it a bit hard to get through due to the amount of descriptions there were. The descriptions seemed to dominate the entire book which made it feel as if there was barely any dialogue or the dialogue was being suffocated. I also felt as if there were lots of explanations when it could’ve been shown to better the book. The writing wasn’t as fiery as I hoped it would be and this kind of let me down since I was pretty hyped up after the prologue.

The plot was good though and the ups and downs cane with the right amount of action/drama too! The characters were pretty cool though and the friendships/alliances formed were interesting.

I plan to read the next book and I’m hoping that I’ll be able to give a higher rating!

"This is the Empire. This is what I am up against."

How is this a debut novel?! The Blood Princess is epic fantasy at its finest. At over 500 pages this is an intricate, complicated fantasy novel - the world is wonderfully detailed, the names are difficult to pronounce and each character has their own abilities that can be used for good or evil. There is a lot to remember and keep track of in this novel but I definitely advise you to keep reading because this is a wonderful novel.

Sulwyn is a strong willed and powerful main character. She is backed up with a whole range of fantastic characters especially Galahad, Daijiro, Eztli and Arsinone. I have to admit that I am Team Daijiro (don’t know what this says about me!) and I would love to see his relationship with Sulwyn develop in future novels.

If you love proper epic fantasy and detailed world building then you will love this new series. I can’t wait for book two!

Check your triggers before reading

I received an ARC of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and is written voluntarily.

Magnificent!! This is such a pack book! I was drawn in from beginning to end! At every twist I found myself being tugged and pulled between the characters! I'd like to add in that the dedication even pulled on my heart strings!

Sulwyn...she's amazing. I love her drive and her wittiness. Trying to bring down the empire from within proves to be a difficult task, as she overcomes many obstacles thorough the entire book! She finds out the hard way, on many occasions, who she can or can't trust on her journey.

I, obviously, dislike King Artaxiad and Queen Pandora. Even if they are her biological parents, they're cruel. Depends on the part of the book on which one I liked my between Galahad and Daijiro, but I think I am team Galahad for now. Can't wait to see what happens next!

"Being afraid of the things you can’t see is okay. But if you can see it, if you can confront it, then you can fight it. Fight it with your heart. Fight it with your soul. Until one day, even the things you can’t see will fall away from you.”

“Fear only gets stronger if you let it.”

Blurb: Sulwyn has never met her parents, the King and Queen of the Empire. She knows them only as the despots who drowned the previous High City in blood and rose to power, leading with carnage, demanding obedience, and leaving her to die at birth. Since learning the truth surrounding her birth, Sulwyn vowed to be the voice for those her parents silenced; under the name Kintana, a protector of people and a seed of hope for all those in Vartugaul. But when she is unexpectedly betrayed and trapped in the Empire, she must survive by playing a deadly game of manipulation, pretending to embrace her parents' tyranny while fighting to fix the rot they created. However, killing the King and Queen will not be enough. Unbeknownst to all, there has been another enemy in the shadows since the beginning, pulling the strings that unknowingly led all the key players to the stage. Has Sulwyn become a piece in an even more dangerous game? Aided by her parent's most feared guards and surprising allies, Sulwyn must decide if she should fulfill her vow to the people and continue to protect them, or if she should pursue revenge and plunge the Empire into chaos.

My thoughts: Whooo this book takes you for a ride and back again! First off the whole Kintana thing gives you Robin Hoody vibes, then you meet all these characters left and right, who you aren't sure you should trust or not, then let's not forget the incredibly descriptive and incredible world building! For a second there I thought I was reading Mr. George R. R. Martin! The plot twists were so good! And even though the cliffhanger at the end made me want to pull my hair out, it was really well told! I'm not the biggest fan of extremely descriptive books but that's what movies and Tv shows are made out of and this book would make a great movie! (GOT, LOTR, ect.) Thanks for another fun one @katieandbreypa!
I give The Blood Princess by S.A. Gonsalves ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.🌟

The Blood Princess is an epic adventure into a new fantasy world filled with cool magic, amazing characters, danger, and intrigue around every corner.
I loved the cast of characters here; their complex natures that unfolded with each chapter, the actions and choices they made that leaves you questioning their morals and goals. I adored the friendships and found family vibes in the cast, and am excited to see how the author builds on these relationships throughout the series.
I loved the action, mystery, and drama, and liked that the plot wasn't predictable, and the tension stayed thick through the mystery.This book was well paced, full of wonderful scenery, and flowed like a movie.
There was a fair amount of violence and moments that made me gasp with shock, and once or twice I screamed at the pages, hoping the characters would hear me and run from the danger.
I cannot wait to get the next book in my hands!!

Immediately captivating, The Blood Princess left me a complete mess with its ending. I was left itching for more and debating reading it again to continue the experience until Gonsalves let’s me read the second one. 😂 Any fans of fantasy writers like S.J. Maas and Danielle Jensen NEED to read this book.

A book I wanted to read over and over, despite writing it since 2005! I hope you fall in love with the characters as much as I did!

The Blood Princess was one of the best things I have read in a long time. I read a little bit of everything, but have been pulled into the fantasy genre lately and I was so happy to have this book ready for me to devour.

I read the entire book within a few days. I took it everywhere with me. Literally, everywhere. (Hello sore legs from a too long sitting session in the bathroom). I drooled over the pages and for once I did not try to skim pages to get to the point. I know some of ya'll feel me on that with these longer fantasy books.

Sulwyn is a hero for the ages. She is the fire I needed to read and a strong female character that girls will want to be. Gonsalves did an amazing job of giving her character flaws, yet purpose, keeping her hard, but gentle, and sowing in her an undying loyalty to do the right thing even when it's at a great cost to her.

The story itself is a page turner as you start by following the legend of Kintana, Sulwyn's alter ego, and watch her fall into a trap set by her parents, the King and Queen of the Empire. She was betrayed by her mentor, setting the ball in motion for her to make things right in the kingdom again.

When she is assimilated into the castle and introduced as the blood princess and heir to the throne, things heat up with those who try to control her. She was not so easily swayed from her mission to bring them down from the inside out.

Two delicious characters fight with her, for her, and make it abundantly clear they want her. The problem? Galahad was raised as the heir with her missing and Daijiro has his own agenda. Add these to the mix of characters Sulwyn wins over to her cause and mischief ensues.

There is fighting, there is mystery, and a whole lot of WTF I can't believe she went there moments. The ending is the Queen of those moments.

Gonsalves pacing is brilliant, her character building is top notch, and her storytelling shines. I highly recommend this book.

If you like Sara J Mass, you will not be disappointed you picked this up.

Okay this is a pretty long one folks.... the book, not my review. At almost 600 pages, she's chunky!

At first, I could not get into it but man, am I glad I held out. The worldbuilding, chefs kiss 🤌. The FMC, badass. The males.... the males! Tortured, brooding, protective but can't show it, literally her enemy and embody everything she stands against (or do they?)..... While this book requires you to really pay attention and is heavy on world building, it is very good. The world and magic system are intricate, the politics and assholery of the king and queen are a bit dark as well. I'm so happy I gave this a second chance because I ended up really, really enjoying it. Also... plot twists. All over the place. And of course, a cliffhanger.... because as always, I like to torture myself. When's book 2?

Not being a fantasy,fictional, nor a historical reader, I was very impressed with a story line that stirred many emotions. Be patient, as the story unfolds, as it will stir many emotions, while keeping the reader guessing. The author is able to depict, strength, weakness, authority, powerlessness, woman, man, at their most vulnerable state.

Can not wait for book 2...just to see the creativity, and imaginative direction our author sends us!
I also believe this would make a great film!!

This YA epic fantasy has pulled me in from the start. The detailed descriptions throughout the book and the main character's strength and resilience kept me flipping pages to continue Sulwyn's journey. An adventure in a fascinating world.

If you like YA Fantasy, be sure to pick up this debut novel.

This was my 1 and only fantasy book for October and it was entirely worth it. The world and characters are well written and have depth. It is fast paced and keeps you interested right away. I love reading debut novels and immediately knowing I’m hooked to the author.

I absolutely loved this story! I can’t wait to read book 2 for this series! Sulwyn is the badass main character that all books need! There is betrayal, attraction, murder, and a savior persona! I enjoyed this one, so much that I wanted to call off work just so I didn’t have to put it down!

Super excited to see where this series goes! Gonsalves did a great job establishing her characters and creating a fascinating world that drives the plot forward.

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/12/2022)! 🎁

The Blood Princess is a fast-paced, well thought out fantasy with characters you will LOVE and a story you will continue to think about well beyond the last page of the book. There are twists at every turn and the stakes stay high from beginning to end, so if you love a good page turner, this will be a good one!

I have grown very attached to Sulwyn, Galahad, and Daijiro through reading this book and am dying to know more about them and what the heck is going on in this world. Can’t wait for the next book!

No spoilers promise, but this is a fun read. Yes, it takes you on an adventure but more importantly for me I liked the characters which makes me actually care about the adventure! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them. For fantasy lovers or people looking to wander off into another world this is a great option.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW! :)

I am utterly shocked this is a debut novel - This epic fantasy (with romance) is filled with intricate and descriptive world building (yet easy to follow), interesting and diverse characters, great plot and intrigue. This book has everything one needs - betrayal, political intrigue, amazing adventure, high fantasy and brooding males!

I was a bit confused at first with all the different names (but thats High Fantasy haha) but once I got into this book, I could not put it down!! Completely hooked. The ending was an absolute cliffhanger, so beware! I recommend this book to anyone that likes the Realmbreaker series by Victoria Ayevard, anything by Danielle L Jensen or SJM.

Also on a side note, so happy to be reading more books from FEMALE CANADIAN authors!!

I recieved an arc in exchange for a honest review - all thoughts and comments are my own. Thank you to Stepfanie and MTMC tours for the oppurtunity.

The Blood Princess is a wickedly awesome, epic fantasy romance with a futuristic twist! I ABSOLUTELY COULDN'T GET ENOUGH! I loved Sulwyn's wittiness and determination! It's packed with magic, fae, danger, romance, adventure, and just overall thrills! You're left constantly wondering what will happen next and who Sulwyn can/can't trust. I was torn between so many characters, but always rooting for Sulwyn. She overcomes so many obstacles on her tasks to bring down the empire and her cruel parents. World and character building was superb!!! I'm anxiously waiting for book 2!

An exceptional read I picked up at a local book vendor event. Gonsalves created a world full of corruption and heartbreak, all while giving us a heroine we can hold hope for. I simply cannot wait until September for book 2 to release.

Enchanting

Not often can an author make me so emotionally invested in even the morally questionable characters. I loved this from start to finish, and I can't wait for book two!

I really enjoyed reading The Blood Princess, and I'd highly recommend checking it out!