Silver & Blood

Reviews

• Criddle

  Finished February 3, 2026

  4.25 ⭐ I love a good fairytale retelling even when it's a very loose retelling like this one and who doesn't love Beauty and the Beast?! This was also a great reminder that romance does not need petty drama to be compelling and good. The worldbuilding and magic system were both well done, but the characters were definitely the highlight for me. The creatures in the forest and the way Riela’s magic manifested were handled thoughtfully, with just enough detail to feel meaningful without overpowering the story. One of the things I appreciated most was how the jealousy was handled by the FMC, Riela. It was refreshingly mature. Instead of women being pitted against each other, we got kindness, empathy, and grace in the face of a misunderstanding. Seeing the women support each other instead of spiraling into rivalry felt intentional and was much appreciated! It was refreshing that the Riela was in her late 20s and imo that helped the romance feel more natural when there's a huge fantasy age gap with immortal beings. However, Riela’s repeated misunderstandings did test my patience a bit. They popped up enough that I found myself internally wanting to smack some sense into her even after having mature conversations with Garrick, the MMC. Even when it was frustrating, it made sense for her character, and that consistency made it a bit less annoying. Garrick was very much that brooding 'beast' trapped in his castle trying to protect his courtiers. I also can’t leave out Grim, the highly intelligent, sort-of wolf creature who protects and shows affection for Riela when she desperately needs it. I’m really hoping we get to see more of his story in book two. Overall, between the emotional maturity, the respectful relationships, and the strong characterization, this book ended up being both comforting and compelling. It's a definitely recommended read from me! Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing the ARC!

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