(Broken Bloodlines, #1) Forged in Blood by Sadie Kincaid

 

Forged in Blood by Sadie Kincaid
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars (I struggled to pick a rating for this one, slipping between 2 and 3 stars.)
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 Spice

This book was rough like watching a car crash in slow motion. You know you should walk away, but you can’t stop staring at the epic mess, wide-eyed, wondering what just happened. That’s exactly how this felt.

There was so much I disliked honestly, the list is long and yet I didn’t stop reading. I finished the whole thing. I’m not even sure why. I hate bullying tropes; I find them distasteful and horrible, especially when the leads are cruel to each other for no real reason and then try to brush it off like it’s nothing. There were so many red flags here I could stitch them together and make a family-sized tent.

Some scenes were so nasty I actually gagged and felt like I needed a shower. The spice was just dirty at times, and after the first few scenes, it started to feel repetitive. I also had major issues with some of the actions taken during those scenes, but I can’t go into detail without spoilers. There’s a lot of spice for readers who want it constantly, even when it makes absolutely no sense for it to be happening.

The conversations were basic and repetitive, and honestly, I have no idea what kept me reading. Maybe nostalgia? I used to love watching trashy TV dramas with my nan, so maybe that same chaotic energy is what kept me going. Despite everything stacked against it, I read it quickly maybe because it was so mindless and messy that it became entertaining in its own way. There was so much I disliked, yet I still finished it. Not sure what that says about me, lol.

The ending didn’t do much for me either. It felt rushed like being shoved forward at breakneck speed and barely taking anything in. Still, I finished it, and I guess that counts for something.

But here’s the thing: even with all of this working against the book, I still read it. And I can’t bring myself to give it a 1-star fail, because I did read the whole thing within a few hours even with all the groaning, cringing, and eye-rolling. Whether I liked the wreck that this book was or not, I still sped through it and found something strangely amusing about the madness.

I found the framework of the story interesting, and I kind of hope we see a stronger, more wicked (FL) lead if I do continue to the next book. So with that in mind, it feels like maybe 2 or 3 stars are actually earned in some ways one, because I finished it, and two, because I’m genuinely considering picking up the next one. I read it fast and found some unexpected amusement buried in the chaos.

What I Liked:
Sometimes a mindless, trashy read hits the spot.
The framework of the story had potential.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
Bullying trope (instant DNF material for me).
No willpower.
I hate when the word NO is ignored. (“No” should always mean no.)

Would I Recommend This Book?
Nope — unless you enjoy red flags with a side of “What am I even reading?!”

Would I Reread?
No, this is definitely a one-and-done kind of read.

How I’d Sum It Up:
Questionable leads, red flags galore, dirty and trashy… yet somehow, I still read it.

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