DNF Review: When Vengeance Bleeds Royal by L.Z. Cathcart

Title: When Vengeance Bleeds Royal
Series: The Blood Descent #1
Author: L.Z. Cathcart
Publication: November 12, 2025
Genre: Fantasy
Find it on: Amazon
Rating: DNF - No rating

She swore vengeance for her sister’s murder.

The gods demand a bloodier price.

Dark, addictive, and laced with forbidden desire, When Vengeance Bleeds Royal is the first book in the Blood Descent series—a brutal fantasy romance perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent and Sarah J. Maas.

“You shattered him,” he says, steady and sure. “And gods help me, you remain the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen.” He leans in. “I should fear you, but all I want is to kneel.”

In the fractured land of Cyrathea, every territory hides a cursed artifact, relics forged by gods who were betrayed and imprisoned. The Brotherhood of Eternal Shadow hunts them all, weaving lies through court politics and blood-soaked bargains.

Lumira Kyrvayne has only one goal: kill the man who murdered her sister. But her vow of vengeance drags her into a deeper game—one where secrets rot beneath every oath, magic bleeds from forbidden relics, and a hooded Shadowspire guard keeps crossing her path with eyes she cannot forget.

Enemies close in. Allies shift like smoke. And the man who should be her enemy might also be the one person who can unravel her resolve.

When Vengeance Bleeds Royal is a dark fantasy romance brimming with:

A morally gray heroine who refuses to be tamed

An enigmatic, hooded antihero with secrets of his own

Forbidden attraction, brutal magic, and deadly politics

Cursed artifacts and imprisoned gods

A slow-burn obsession that cuts as deep as any blade

Please note: This series contains dark themes, twisted loyalty, and romance with sharp edges. Check content warnings before reading.

DNF at 60%

I really tried to give When Vengeance Bleeds Royal a chance but unfortunately this wasn't the right book for me at the moment. It wasn't a bad read, not at all. And I'm sure other readers will enjoy it more than I have. 

I, in fact, really liked the main character Lumira who is trying to solve her sister's murder. At the start and throughout the first half of the book there was a lot of world-building and many secondary characters I didn't much care for to keep track of. It felt like a lot of information being thrown at me which made for a really slow kinda book. And usually I don't mind the stories that are a bit more slow or take a bit to pick up the pace but in the end I found it all a bit too complex. 

The same goes for the romance. It was very much a slow-burn. We hardly see Lumira's love interest for the first half of the book and it made me lose interest a bit. The story, at least for the first 60% is definitely more focused on the politics. 

The author's writing was beautiful for sure, but sometimes the writing also felt a bit too flowery. This, together with everything else I mentioned made the book in general just convoluted and overwhelming to read.

No rating since this book is a DNF.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Wandering Queen by Claire Heywood

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read.

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The Wandering Queen by Claire Heywood

Expected publication: February 12, 2026 by Hodder & Stoughton

The King of Tyre is dead, his final words anointing his clever and strong-willed daughter, Elissa, as the new queen until his young son comes of age. But betrayal and danger soon haunt Elissa, and she is forced to flee the kingdom - exiled with a band of loyal followers and a broken heart.

After an arduous search for a new home, Elissa and her people settle in North Africa, and she is crowned Queen Dido: the ferocious and devoted ruler of her newly established city of Carthage. Soon a powerful trading hub, Carthage thrives under Dido's governance. But when a band of Trojan survivors, led by the valiant Aeneas, washes up on a nearby shore, Queen Dido is reminded of a promise she made long ago, never to trust or to love another again.

Can Dido overcome her past and open herself - and her city - up to Aeneas, or is their love doomed to burn everything to the ground?

'An intelligent, sympathetic retelling of the story of Dido. Heywood incorporates the myths and legends that surround this mysterious queen and presents a narrative that is both powerful and compelling' Laura Shepperson

'A triumphant reclamation of the legend of Dido . . . Heywood brings Dido's story to vivid life, moving from the wealth of Tyre to the dusty plains of Carthage. In so doing, Heywood weaves an engaging yarn that restores the ancient queen to her rightful place of dignity' Luna McNamara

'Heywood has once again crafted an excellent mythology reimagining. With an adept and expert hand, Dido is painted as a complex, strong heroine in a story she has long deserved. Through themes of love, loss and power, Heywood has brought the ancient world back to life in a tale that is equally as heartbreaking as it is wonderful' Claire M. Andrews

 The myth of Dido is one of my favorite tales but I've never come across a retelling of it. UNTIL NOW! So of course I can't wait to get my hands on this book. 

US cover by Dutton ↓

What cover do you prefer? Do you know the myth of Dido?

Monthly Wrap-Up: January 2026

Monthly Wrap-Up is my once-a-month post recapping all the books I’ve read.

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It was not a good reading month, you guys... but I guess I should be glad to have read some books at least. It just has been a month. Hopefully February will be a better one for me.

Bookish Stats:

Books read: 4
Physical books: 1
Ebooks: 1
Audiobooks: 2
Rereads: 1

The Hymn to Dionysus by Natasha Pulley — 2/5★

Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen — 4.5/5★

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid — 4/5★
Circe by Madeline Miller — 5/5★ (reread)

Have you read any of these books?
What was your favorite book of the month?