A Crimson Covenant (Nightwalkers of Concord Book 1)

First, I have to say that if any book was judged by its cover, it was this one, and it made me instantly want to read it. The concept of this book was so interesting with all it's intricate detail of how this society functions and how the magic works. I am always highly critical of how the magic systems are set up in books, and this one delivered. I'm very new to sapphic romance (I know, how heteronormative of me...), but am very much a vibe reader, and this book had immaculate vibes throughout the entire tale. I was instantly in love with both of these women and loved seeing them grow into who they needed to be for themselves, each other, and their whole community. I went into this book not having read anything else from this author, but didn't feel like I was totally lost from not having read the 4 novellas set in the same universe, set far in the past, as all the world-building and lore was very easy to follow. Overall, I really enjoyed every aspect of this story, including the spice, the relationships, the characters, the plot, etc.

What’s it about: In the hidden town of Concord, vampires and werewolves have lived as allies for centuries. But when a violent cult attacks, everything falls apart. The story follows Arche (a lycan heir) and Lenora (a vampiric heir) as they’re forced to go on the run together. They have to survive a journey far from home to save their people, all while dealing with some serious personal baggage and a partnership they didn’t exactly ask for. The Review: I am still reeling from how much I loved this world! Honestly, the world-building in A Crimson Covenant is just on another level. It felt so vivid and "real" that I didn’t just want to follow Arche and Lenora, I wanted to explore the world myself! It’s rare to find a setting that feels that unique and well thought out. One of my favorite things was the pacing. Sometimes fantasy books make the romance feel rushed or let the plot drag, but this was a perfect 50/50 split. The connection between Arche and Lenora felt very realistic because it actually had room to breathe alongside the main story. The characters all have their own messy faults, which just made them feel like actual people you’d meet. Their flaws made them so much more likable and relatable. I flew through this one and I’m already wishing I could jump back in! Final Verdict: If you love immersive fantasy, sapphic leads, and characters who feel like real people (flaws and all!), you need to pick this up.

Right from the first page, I was pulled into an amazing world of vampires and werewolves (Lycans). The world of Concord is this perfect mix of cozy and mystery, enchanting but with just the right amount of danger. There is political tension and daring rescues to keep things intense. The story has a real, layered texture; there’s always something new to uncover. At the center of it all are Lenora and Arche, and wow, their connection is everything! Their rocky start slow-burn romance is such a fun ride, full of little stolen glances, heart-pounding tension, and genuine warmth. And once the sparks fly, it is absolutely swoon-worthy, steamy romance, full of passion, respect, and lots of consent. These sapphic babes are consent Queens! If you’re craving a book with vampires, werewolves (Lycans), a rich fantasy world, and a romance filled with angst, longing, and spice, you’ve found it! This is an amazing first installment, and I’m already eager for the sequel. I cannot wait to jump back into Nightwalkers of Concord!

Omg okay Aimee Donnellan is now my all time favorite author hands down. Reading each of her books, series, or Patreon snippets, is soo soothing and helps me escape this reality. I love visiting Aboria, whether it be on another adventure with Wren, Lark and Reverie or visiting Concord with Arche and Lenora, every story is just so beautiful and wholesome. It really is an immersive, experience. The World building is beyond anything I’ve read and the character development is so much more than anything else you’d find in your typical romance novel. Everything is just 100% so Real, it just makes it feel like it’s all happening right there in front of you. And I love again how she’s made a world of the majority of people being LGBTQIA, it really is so heartwarming to read these stories. I love supporting you Aimee and I can’t wait for, A Verdant Vendetta, to be released! 🫶

As soon as I saw the cover for this book I wanted to read it! It's absolutely gorgeous. I enjoyed reading about this world and magical elements but I do wish we had more about the background of the world and lore we get in it. Perhaps it will be fleshed out more in future books? The action started basically right away and we were launched into a partnership for survival between the two main characters so I did feel a bit lost for a while. I felt the characters were really relatable. The neurodivergent rep was lovely to read in a fantasy element. I feel like the author did a really good job of showing how you can be really strong but have inner struggles, too. Their relationship seemed to move somewhat fast for two characters who had barely interacted with each other before being thrown together after their town was attacked. Overall, it was an interesting and fun take on vampires and werewolves in a romantasy setting.