The Blood Prince by Ayla Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect when I first came across The Blood Prince by Ayla Marie. The synopsis was interesting and unique, and I just knew I had to read it and see what it was about. There are two parts, part one is from the perspective of Leo, part two is from his adoptive brother Cael’s perspective.

In the beginning the book is from Leo’s point of view, he is a Blood Prince, the most wanted mercenary in the Kingdom of Tominay. He is on a job, the target requests a death wish in her final moments, “Kill my kids for me after I’m gone.” This single moment breaks Leo’s concentration as he sees the faces of his five siblings pass through his mind. He has granted death wishes before, they were simple request to fulfill such as, burn my body after I am gone, but this wish weighed heavily on his mind as he questioned such a request. Since the death of his parents Leo has done everything, to provide for his siblings, until his nightmare comes true, one of his little brothers has the same powers as him. A bang on the door after an innocent night of siblings’ playing together turned dark when a stranger came knocking on their door, “All I do is put them in harm’s way. Every day we stay here I endanger them.”, Leo’s thoughts are pained as he handles the fourth stranger within the year to come looking for the mercenary with red eyes. An innocent family day into town to get pastry, his brother sees some boys playing kickball and joins in, they invite him to join in a game an hour later around the block and his older brother Cael gives him the okay feeling he’s old enough to give him a chance. One rule, be home by dark. Three hours have passed by Leo sits waiting for his brother to return, impatient and worried he begins to run with all he has. Heart pounding, he runs pass the old oak tree before stopping when he notices a figure sitting near it, his boss Mr. Vela. Heartless and cruel his boss has always dangled his siblings’ safety in front of his face. Leo’s little brother was arrested for trying to kill someone his eyes glowing gold. Willing to do anything to save his brother Leo agrees to Mr. Vela’s terms, in exchange for the location of his brother he will bring him into the “business” to work with him. Saying anything to get the location Leo runs with everything he can to save his brother. Willing to give anything he will save his siblings.

I found myself transported into the world the author created, as the oldest sibling I found my heart racing with Leo’s. His determination pure, he does what he must to provide for them and to protect them, not only from those who would hurt them but from seeing the darker sides of himself. The Blood Prince had me begging from the beginning for everything to work out for Leo and his siblings to be safe. For them to have a home free of fear.

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