Blood Beneath the Snow - (Blood & Souls Duology) by Alexandra Kennington (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A heart-pounding romantasy following a rebellious princess who must compete to the death against her siblings for the crown to ensure justice, while fighting her feelings for her country's most powerful enemy by debut author Alexandra Kennington

Revna is no stranger to struggle. As the only member of the royal family without a magical ability, she is seen as an embarrassing mistake by her kingdom and a blight on her bloodline. Luckily, Revna has found family in other outcasts in her kingdom. But when her two closest friends' lives are put in danger, she is determined to save them by any means necessary, no matter the cost. The Bloodshed Trials--a competition where the last sibling in the royal family standing takes the throne--might just be the ultimate price.

Revna turns down her arranged marriage and commits to competing for the throne only to be kidnapped by the mysterious and terrifyingly powerful Hellbringer, the general of her country's greatest enemy. He has the ability to rend souls with the flick of his wrist and is every inch as intimidating as the war stories say he is. But Revna wonders if there may be some humanity left in him--especially when he reveals there are other parties who want her on the throne for their own secret reasons.

Review Quotes

"Raw, compelling, and darkly beautiful, Blood Beneath the Snow is everything I love about romantasy. Alexandra Kennington effortlessly balances a suspenseful, action-packed plot with rich lore, tearjerking angst, and riveting character dynamics. This story had me hooked from the first fiery sentence to the poignant, epic last."--Thea Guanzon, New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars

"Thrilling, tense, and full of crackling romantic tension, Blood Beneath the Snow is a captivating novel with an unforgettable and unstoppable heroine at its heart. Come for the gorgeous wintry setting, stay for the rich lore, devastating angst, and swoonworthy enemies-to-lovers romance."--Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn

"Blood Beneath the Snow has got it all: ill-advised love with plenty of bickering; chemistry that sizzles hot against the wintry atmosphere; and a brewing rebellion. A fun, propulsive debut that will have readers clamoring for the sequel."--Allison Saft, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of A Dark and Drowning Tide

"Kennington's gripping debut romantasy starts with the risky, disobedient act of a princess, follows with an abduction, and keeps the action going until the blood-soaked end, leaving readers eager for more from the novel's pair of doomed lovers."--Library Journal (starred review)

"There's nothing I love to read about more than a dangerous man falling in love with a dangerous woman. I stayed up way too late finishing Blood Beneath the Snow. I had to know how it ended!"--Tricia Levenseller, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Darkness within Us

"This thrilling romantasy is for everyone who's ever begged the villain to please take off his mask (because you suspect he's quite hot under there). Blood Beneath the Snow offers a high-stakes plot in a brutal, fascinating world, with a tough, sympathetic protagonist it's easy to root for. The tension between Revna and the mysterious Hellbringer is exquisite. This is enemies-to-lovers at its finest and most swoonworthy. I adored this and can't wait for the sequel!"--Sarah Hawley, USA Today bestselling author of Servant of Earth

"Wow, what a ride! I had so much fun reading this book and couldn't wait to see what would happen next. Alex Kennington has created a brutal and unforgiving world with a strong heroine you want to be friends with and a swoony, tortured hero you want to be more than friends with at its heart. If you love forced proximity, a masked enemy, and a little romantic kidnapping, then Blood Beneath the Snow needs a spot on your TBR immediately."--Nisha J. Tuli, bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen

"Kennington conjures a dangerous world populated by colorful characters and enhanced by an underlying tension--romantic and otherwise."--Publishers Weekly

"Kennington's debut romantasy novel is full of angst (and spice), with an underdog heroine leading a rebellion and an unexpected ending that readers will enjoy."--Booklist

"Norse vibes and romantasy? Say less. Beautifully immersive with dark undertones and passion make this a can't-be-missed fantasy romance!"--LJ Andrews, USA Today Bestselling author of The Broken Kingdoms series and Broken Souls and Bones

"Make way for your next enemies-to-lovers Romantasy obsession! Stabby, tense, and delicious, I could not put Blood Beneath the Snow down. Deft worldbuilding, a slow-burn romance, and characters you'll fall in love with make this one for the keeper shelf."--Amanda Bouchet, USA Today bestselling author of A Promise of Fire

"Blood Beneath the Snow by Alexandra Kennington is a sizzling new romantasy set in a brutal world where a feisty princess must battle her own siblings for the crown--and her own survival. Between the morally grey characters, the masked love interest, and the forbidden romance, I could not put it down!"--Demi Winters, author of The Road of Bones

"An immersive novel that kept me saying 'just one more chapter' well into the night. If you'd love to read about a masked enemy and a strong heroine with palpable romantic tension, then Blood Beneath the Snow is perfect for you!"--Olivia Rose Darling, author of Fear the Flames

"A feisty princess and a delicious enemies-to-lovers plot line--how could I possibly resist? Alexandra Kennington's debut Blood Beneath the Snow is a heart-pounding, thrilling romantasy filled to the brim with luscious world-building and mesmerizing magic. This was a late-night page-turner for me. I simply couldn't put it down! With intelligent characters full of heart, danger around every corner, and political intrigue that will have you guessing every step of the way, this book is 100% a must-read! I can't wait to see what Alexandra comes up with next!"--Katrina Kwan, author of The Last Dragon of the East

"Blood Beneath the Snow is everything you want in an enemies-to-lovers romantasy and more. Kennington weaves a world of unique magic, family politics, and swoon-worthy romance with masterful precision. If Legend of Korra and Vikings were put together into a book, it would be this one! Truly unputdownable, a wicked page turner and characters I can't help but love -- most notable the broody masked enemy who is delectable. A fresh voice in the romantasy, Kennington is going to take the genre by storm!"--Ben Alderson, author of A Betrayal of Storms

"Alex Kennington's debut is a potent study of winter's brutality, composed of stark landscapes and an unforgiving king who would burn his children to ash rather than see them live free. Yet amidst her chilling portrayals of the priests and the powerless emerges Revna: an irreverent, scrappy, quick-witted princess whose defiance of the gods and her father dares to invoke a better world--one forged in captivity with the Hellbringer whose alluring, enigmatic, and lethal presence lights the pages on fire. Steeped in shades of "You're On Your Own Kid" and the rage that comes with living powerless, Blood Beneath the Snow is a timely story of tireless love and staunch belief fought beneath a fierce, wintry landscape, and I am impatient to see how the duology ends!"--Maggie Rapier, author of Soulgazer

About the Author

Alexandra Kennington has been writing fantasy stories since she was young. Now, she's living her dream as an author of fantasy and science fiction novels. When she's not knee-deep in a world of her own creation, you'll find her reading a book with the enemies-to-lovers trope or obsessing over Star Wars. She lives in Utah with her spouse and child.