REVIEW: The Reveal by Megan Crane

In The Reveal by Megan Crane, Winter Bishop was one of millions of humans across the globe to be knocked sideways three years ago when it became known that supernatural creatures are real. And they were ready to not only be seen in public but to cause mayhem, death, and destruction. Winter, her twin brother Augie, and their elderly grandmother Sarah hunkered down on their family property in small mountain town Jacksonville, Oregon, waiting to see when it would be safe to go back out into the world again. Unfortunately, that time still isn’t here. As the years have worn on, Winter has gotten somewhat used to her new normal. Working at the coffee hut in town, worrying about where Augie is, spending her time reinforcing their house and property, fending off zombies and on the lookout for anything else lurking about. But it’s when she puts the cottages just outside of their home up for rent that everything starts to change.

‘Monsters were real. And they weren’t hiding any longer.’

Winter knows at least two of her three new renters are not human. The third woman, she’s just not sure. But as long as they pay their rent and don’t cause any trouble, she doesn’t care. She refuses to lose the family home, particularly as her grandmother is starting to show her age. But somehow Winter also gets a summons from Ariel, the vampire King who evidently resides in the neighboring town. From the moment they meet, she is both drawn to him and freaked out that he doesn’t scare her more. Winter is soon made aware of certain prophecies that have been discussed among the paranormal communities for centuries and realizes that she’s going to be dragged into whatever is heading for them. She’s never backed down from a fight. But then again, Winter’s never been in the midst of vampires, werewolves, zombies, and goddesses before, either. And she has no idea if she’ll make it out alive–or if she’ll find her brother Augie safe and sound.

‘Both of us frozen in place. The two of us on either side of a set of bars, identical indigo eyes locked together. “Augie,” I whisper. “What have you gotten yourself into?”

A paranormal romance with a dystopian slant that had hidden depths and a few complex threads to the storyline, THE REVEAL was the imaginative beginning of Megan Crane’s newest series, Bloodlore.

‘He kisses me like I am something precious to him. And he sets the whole world on fire.’

CW: View Spoiler »Addiction, torture, murder, death, captivity, blood & gore « Hide Spoiler

Megan Crane was definitely onto something when she created the fascinating world we get to explore in THE REVEAL. It’s set in a small town in Oregon with all types of paranormal beings: vampires, werewolves, zombies, goblins, oracles, sorceresses, goddesses, etc., but it’s the humans who have only known of the creatures’ existence for about three years who I think will resonate with readers. The way Crane wrote this from heroine Winter’s POV as a narrative really amped up the emotions. The confusion, anger, despair, defeat, love, and hope she waffled between was palpable on each page.

And even though Winter didn’t ask questions or try to sort things out as quickly as I probably would have, there was always a reason for her delayed reactions and why she pushed away certain people or beings. Her love for her remaining family–her twin brother Augie and her aging grandmother, Sarah–was unquestionable. Winter would literally do anything to keep them as safe as she could in a world of supernatural creatures meaning to do them harm.

But then there were the plot twists that made this an even more intriguing story. There’s so much I want to discuss about Winter, what she learns about her family–and herself!–as well as how Ariel the vampire King got woven into her life but it’s best to read it as Crane laid it all out. Because each new secret revealed, each new piece of information Winter learned added not only more complexity to her situation but also showed her strength and determination. And with how things ended in this first book, the next novel in the series promises to be even more exciting with the stakes that much higher for Winter and the rest of her group.

QOTD: Have you read any of Megan Crane’s books or under her other two pen names: Caitlin Crews (Harlequin Presents), or Hazel Beck (author duo with Nicole Helm)?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: October 7th, 2025 | Montlake | Bloodlore #1

In the wake of a monstrous world war, a mortal woman’s submission to an enigmatic vampire is the only way to live in this enthralling paranormal romance from USA Today bestselling author Megan Crane.

It’s a different world now, Winter Bishop. Get used to it. Or die.

For the three years since the Reveal, when monsters rose from the shadows, I’ve been just another human trying to maintain normalcy in a world where life is short and brutal. Coexisting with werewolves, zombies, and vampires—each alarmingly true to their myths—isn’t easy.

Now I’ve been summoned by Ariel Skinner, the charismatic king of the vampires, who holds my missing brother’s life in his hands. To save him, I must do everything Ariel says. His quicksilver gaze and the way he makes my body hum should scare me, but the wildfire chemistry is just too hot.

I should have known that Ariel would want more.

Because there’s a greater cataclysm to come, and it will make everything worse. To help stop it, Ariel needs me. And whatever fresh hell arises, with every beat of my disastrously mortal heart, I need him.

After all, I’m only human.