REVIEW: Blood Beneath the Snow by Alexandra Kennington

In Blood Beneath the Snow by Alexandra Kennington, When most people think of a princess, they envision a spoiled, pampered young woman with the entire world at her feet. But for Revna, being the only member of her royal family with no magical abilities means she is of no use to them. Until they need her in order to make an alliance with another country, Faste. Then Revna is forced to be engaged to their prince. No matter that she’s never set eyes on him before and has no idea how badly he might treat her during their lifetime together. But as the rebellion of the godforsaken like Revna against the godtouched people like her family ratchets up, she decides to make her stand and decline the engagement.

‘Everyone knew I was the princess–the godforsaken royal, the shame of her family, the bargaining chip that would save us from starving before we could win the war.’

Revna knew she would be punished but she didn’t foresee her close friends–more like family to her than her own blood relatives–being put in danger by her father. Willing to do anything to get them to safety, she’s forced to go to the warfront and fight before she can enter into the Bloodshed Trials to try to take the throne. But Revna is soon captured by one of the deadliest men in the world: Hellbringer. General for the Kryllian army and having killed her own people over the years in battle, he is a formidable foe. At first, she wonders daily if he will kill her as she’s of no use to him. She knows no battle strategy or secrets he can relay to his queen. Revna soon sees, though, that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to her captor. And as their bond grows, it makes their situation that much more complicated–and dangerous.

He said, “Sometimes you make sacrifices for the things you care most about. Even when the sacrifice is becoming a weapon.”

A solid debut novel by Alexandra Kennington, BLOOD BENEATH THE SNOW was an action-packed romantasy wrapped up in royal family dramatics, a country at war, and an outcast princess who falls for her dangerous captor.

“What’s the greater sin: loving a monster or being one?”

CW: View Spoiler »Alcoholism, torture, child abuse & neglect, murder. « Hide Spoiler

BLOOD BENEATH THE SNOW quickly pulled me into the storyline with its twists and turns, possibly duplicitous characters, extremely complicated relationships, and heroine Revna’s determination to help others. Through all of the drama–told strictly from Revna’s POV–author Alexandra Kennington made it easy to understand and empathize with the princess’s plight. Most of her family cast her aside. Her country’s people looked down on her. And all because she was born seemingly without any type of magical abilities, marking her as a “godforsaken”. Which is what led Revna to team up with other godforsaken to begin a rebellion.

Revna rebelling against her duties as a princess as well put her directly in harm’s way. When she was sent away to the frontlines of the war between her country Bhorglid and neighboring Kryllian, she found herself being taken captive by one of the deadliest generals the world had ever seen. To me, the relationship that grew between Revna and Hellbringer wasn’t really Stockholm Syndrome. There was a spark there anyway. But being from opposing sides of the war and with Revna on the cusp of fighting in the Bloodshed Trials to try to take the throne from her father, it felt like she and Hellbringer were fated to part.

As this is part of a duology, it left off after a pivotal moment for Revna and those in her country. Not a cliffhanger, but there were definitely some questions and issues still left open. I can’t wait to see what Kennington has planned for book two in this story arc.

QOTD: Do you like to read books in a series as they are released, or do you wait until they’ve all been published before diving in?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: March 11th, 2025 | Ace | Blood & Souls Duology #1

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.