Of Blood, Bones, and Truth by T.M. Ledvina

For fans of genre-bending science fiction and fantasy, Of Blood Bones and Truth is a modern take on classic epic fantasy stories featuring murder mystery, front-and-center queer representation, MM romance, and unique magical technology. Kellan Manchester, an indentured political assassin, wants to lead a life of his own choosing. But as one of the Fallen - celestial descendants who are still paying for their ancestor’s mistakes - he has no choice but to do as he’s commanded. All Cassian Evermore wants is to pay off his father’s debts and ensure his mother’s safety. Being forced to work for someone he hates is soul-crushing, but when he meets Legion assassin Kellan in the garden of a target’s home, he can’t help but wonder if he’s finally found something interesting. Thanks to a fortuitous reunion in a nightclub, the two men form a tentative agreement to work together to solve a brutal string of murders in Spiral City. Kellan finds himself struggling to connect the dots, while Cassian juggles the emotional toll of targeting someone he’s come to see as a friend. And neither of them can ignore their budding feelings for one another, even while the bodies continue to pile up. Kellan and Cassian are two men with no control over their own fates - but this case could spell the same for the entire world.

Adult • Fantasy/Science Fantasy • Diversity Representation/LGBTQ+ • Fantasy

Content Warning: Blood Violence Descriptions of gore/dead bodies Implications of child abuse Implications of drug abuse References to Rape/Sexual Assault Kidnapping Torture Casual alcohol and drug use Implications of alcohol abuse Panic attacks

kevinscorner book blogger

I understood what it was going for, but Of Blood, Bones, and Truth just didn’t pan out. Narratively inconsistent, too focused on a mystery that it spoils by having the villain’s PoV, and an underdeveloped romance.

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