Bloom & Blood

The Second Fate of Elodie Devine, Book 1

De: Eva Chase

Narrado por: Rose Dioro, Stephen Dexter

*Duet narration by Rose Dioro and Stephen Dexter!*

Once, I destroyed my fated mates. This time I'm going to save them.

One moment, I'm living my downtrodden life: disowned, outcast, and barely scraping by.

The next, I'm wrenched into an alternate universe where I'm rich, privileged—and dead.

No one knows that last part yet except the killer and the woman who summoned me. And she won't send me home until I pose as my spoiled other self, infiltrate the upper echelons of magical society, and flush out my own murderer.

If only I didn't walk into Luminary Academy and find myself face to face with my worst regrets: my fated mates.

These formidable men have no idea I'm their destined match—or that I ruined their lives in my own reality. At best, they see me as a rival. At worst, a heartless enemy.

But our fractured connection keeps pulling us closer despite my efforts to resist.

I need to expose the murderer and leave this world before our bonds can spark. Because no matter how much my would-be mates torment and crave me, they have no idea how much blood I have on my hands.

One wrong move, and I'll be the death of them... again.

*Bloom & Blood is the first in a new urban fantasy series with tangled mate bonds, morally grey men who yearn their hearts out, and a fierce heroine determined to make the most of her second chance. This audiobook has duet narration.*

©2026 Eva Chase (P)2026 Eva Chase

Elodie, Alternate Realities, & Her Matches

Starting with the narrators, they both did a great job with the characters, and I love that the book is recorded in a duet style vs dual. It makes the story more immersive. The length of the audiobook is also pretty good. Not excessively long and not too short.

The story itself is interesting. It has a faster pace in the beginning and slows a bit towards the middle - end. The investigation/mystery part of the story is where things really slow down. There is a lot of inner monologue in Elodie's chapters in this section of the book, and I found myself zoning out a bit there.

The interactions between Elodie and her matches are initially quite intriguing, but they become a bit repetitive over the course of the story but this is due to Elodie's concerns. The spicy scenes are very few and sprinkled over the course of the story.

I started getting a bit annoyed with the FMC, Elodie, in the second half of the book because she allows/encourages Byron to think he hurt her. There is a somewhat obvious revelation that gives a bit more depth to Elodie's character - it's pretty obvious from early on especially with the aunt's behaviour.

The story picks up the pace closer to the end and the author really starts to pull on the heartstrings. The end makes up for the slower chapters and really sets up for the next book.

I've read the Royal Spares series by this author and the pacing seems somewhat similar to that series. There is a lot still unknown by the end of the book which makes sense since this will be a four book series.

Overall the book is very much a mash up of murder/mystery, why choose (slow burn), magic/paranormal elements, alternate reality, and academia setting.

After making it to the end, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

A new favorite

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This may be one of my favorite books by Eva Chase so far. I wouldn’t call this instalove and the twist of Elodie filling in for her doppelgänger and know who her mates are before they know who she is. I also like the magic system and how not only are people separated by economic class their still an issue with color in this book. Although Elodie is searching for the murderer, there was much suspense or progression of finding clues for most of the book which made it a bit boring at times. I need the next book and I will definitely be continuing with this story.

So good it made me angry...

I am absolutely furious with myself for reading this book so soon after it was released because it is SO GOOD and I need the next one IMMEDIATELY but now I have to wait. Why did I do this to myself?

loved it!

I love the characters, the time travel, and The main character. I also loved how the character in the scenes built over the book and how the ending left us wanting more.

Love it

I can not wait for the next one. Finished it in less than 24 hours. WOW… all her mates..