In Forged in Blood, Kristina L. Wildes transports readers into a paranormal saga with werewolves, angels, druids, and demons. Verena, an 18-year-old, has her concept of ‘normal’ thrown out when she wakes up from a coma to discover she is a High Fae with extraordinary powers. As she tries to find her feet in this new world and learn more about her heritage, she finds that she is mated to two paranormal beings: the boy she always had a crush on, the werewolf Alpha in line, Aven, and the fierce Demon Prince, Kieran. With flashbacks from her mother, Verena realizes that there may be more to her existence than she is aware.

In the first book of the series, Kristina L. Wildes has created a thrilling mix of romance, action, and adventure. I enjoyed the worldbuilding in Forged in Blood. She has created an immersive and detailed paranormal world with detailed history and culture seamlessly woven into the story. The narrative is written in such a way that you are pulled into the story from the very first page. Using multiple perspectives, the story moves at a quick pace and there are enough twists, turns, and spicy interludes to keep the pages turning. The main protagonist, Verena, undergoes clear growth throughout the storyline. She is introduced as someone longing to escape from an abusive household and we see her fighting her own battles and learning to utilize the powers she is given from her heritage and mate bonds. The other characters also add depth to the narrative and make the story have more layers. Kristina has set the stage for Verena and her friends in Forged in Blood. I will be looking forward to her journey in the next installment of this series.

Forged in Blood by Kristina L. Wildes is an epic fantasy of a young woman thrown into a paranormal world after living miserably with a neglectful mother and abusive stepfather for far too long. Verena lives in Gwendolyn and works for the wealthy Belmont family after school, running errands and delivering their post and groceries. On one such delivery, she accidentally bangs her head twice hard and ends up losing consciousness. When she wakes from her coma, her whole world is turned upside down. It turns out her ‘parents’ are not her family at all, but were acting as guardians until she came of age. Not to mention, they’re werewolves, and so are the Belmont family, who have tended to her. Verena then learns that an infusion she was given has caused her to prematurely develop into a High Fae, giving her extraordinary abilities that she must learn to control. This transition drew the attention of Aven, the Belmont family’s alpha wolf, and Kieran, a red-eyed demon who speaks to her when she’s unconscious or sleeping. Both are magically bonded to Verena, and neither attempts to hide their not-so-honorable intentions, but which is her true destiny? Follow Verena as she adjusts to this new reality, learning of her true family’s tragic past, the complexities of her present, and the dangerous uncertainty surrounding her future.

Forged in Blood is a gripping tale of fantasy, romance, and drama. Kristina L. Wildes immerses the reader in Verena’s world as she grapples with understanding and becoming the person she is destined to be. This fast-paced story is filled with evocative descriptions and discourse between characters, which are both artfully used to enhance character development. The masterful use of descriptive language quickly engages the reader’s imagination, painting a vivid picture of the surroundings for each scene. The story is mostly told from Verena’s point of view, but the use of other perspectives adds depth and gives insight. Thematically, there are some complex ideas including discrimination, abuse, and warfare. Wilde weaves these delicately and skillfully into the text, presenting the reader with a thought-provoking yet also highly alluring novel. This book was a delight to read. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the lore of the paranormal and this new, exciting world. It’s mysterious, sexy, and utterly beguiling. I would recommend Forged in Blood to fantasy lovers everywhere. Unsuitable for younger audiences due to strong language, explicit scenes, and some brutality. I look forward to reading more by Kristina L. Wildes, and eagerly anticipate a sequel!

Forged in Blood by Kristina L. Wildes is a deftly crafted blend of paranormal romance and epic fantasy. Eighteen-year-old Verena works as a delivery girl for the affluent Belmont family. One day, as she unloads the delivery, she hits her head on the car door and falls into a coma. The Belmonts take Verena into their care. When Verena emerges from the coma, she learns that she is a High Fae and discovers a magical romantic bond with Aven Belmont. But just as Verena starts to get to grips with these overwhelming discoveries, Verena’s vitals start shutting down. In her comatose state, she communicates with Demon Prince Kieran, who falls in love with Verena and promises to rescue her. But will he succeed?

Forged in Blood absorbed me from the first page and held me in its grip until the ending, which left me wishing for more. The fast-paced, suspenseful, and atmospheric storytelling and thoroughly developed characters immersed me in a nearly cinematic experience. Kristina L. Wildes' allegorical exploration of topical themes of war and peace and diversity and inclusion is praiseworthy and enhances the story with a thought-provoking aspect. I also liked how the story addressed child abuse and complex romantic relationships. But most of all, I enjoyed the magical creatures, the runes, and the history of the Werewolves and Fae families. I highly recommend this fascinating story to adult paranormal romance and epic fantasy fans. Due to sexual scenes, violence and gore, and profanities, this novel is inappropriate for young readers.

Forged in Blood is a supernatural romance/thriller by Kristina L. Wildes. Verena Saxon grew up raised by a neglectful mother and an abusive stepfather. But her life turns upside down when she learns she's a High Fae whose parents came from two separate Fae houses and that she's mated to werewolf Alpha Aven Belmont. After Verena finds herself in a coma, she unwittingly visits the mind of Demon Prince Kieran Dremorta, with whom she's been bonded for centuries. Upon waking up from her coma, she trains under the tutelage of the hybrid Heathrow and slowly learns to master her abilities. Torn between her feelings for Aven and Kieran, Verena discovers she carries the blood of four archangels. Now, as powerful forces converge around her sanctuary, Verena faces an ultimate betrayal. Will she prevail?

If you love books with thrilling action, powerful magic, and intoxicating love triangles, Forged In Blood will sate your every appetite. Featuring werewolves, demons, fae, and a host of other magical creatures, this story is an absolute treat for fans of the supernatural. Within the first few pages, Kristina L. Wildes drops the reader into a vivid and enthralling world of mystery, magic, and lore with various factions of supernatural races. Verena's character development and evolution from a naive teenager to a powerful Fae as she mastered her abilities was one of the book's highlights for me. I also enjoyed the different dynamics between her relationships with Aven and Kieran. I was very much invested in the love triangle and the lore of the archangels and their progeny. Recommended to readers of supernatural fantasy and romance.