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Cover of The Bones of Benevolence

The Bones of Benevolence

by Lauren M. Leasure

🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate·Benevolence & Blood #2
3.9 on Goodreads (458)

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Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

You'll experience cathartic release and satisfying angst amidst lush world-building and emotional depth.

Synopsis

Reckoning, Retribution and Ruin Petra’s entire life has just fallen apart and come together all in a single breath. Against her will, she’s been promised to the Rebel King, head of a bloodthirsty army amassed by force. But now that her true bloodline has been revealed, not everyone is content to sit idly by while her powers are abused in the name of conquest. Meanwhile, King Belin struggles to reconcile a twisted past — and the part he played in it. As he moves forward from unimaginable grief, he realizes the only future he’s interested in is one with the woman he’s forbidden from loving. As Petra uncovers what it means to be the daughter of the two most powerful beings in existence, she must learn to balance the weight of a crown she never asked for while learning to accept her life had never been her own to begin with. Amid the chaos, the time looms near when Petra must come face to face with the force behind her life’s destruction — Lord Evarius Castemont. Uncertain of what the future holds, Petra continues her crusade for the truth, praying to the Saints that salvation is waiting in the wings. Unmask the thrilling second installment of the Benevolence & Blood Series

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

A curator's note goes here with flavor that could spoil the plot.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

3.91 ★ (458)

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2023

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Romantasy

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Multi-POV

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Medium Burn

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

No audiobook yet

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (unspecified)

Narrator Count

Single

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
dark romancemonster romanceblood feud romancehidden past revealedsecret relationship
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

darkintenseemotionalatmosphericbroodingepic

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

lushatmosphericimmersivedark

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

medium

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

heavy

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

forbidden desiremorally complex

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

survivormorally gray fmcoutcast/loner

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

morally gray mmcdark/tortured soulking / ruling monarch

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

forbidden love

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
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🌶️
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Spice Level 3

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

intense / passionatedark / taboo style

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

hair pulling softpinning hands above headlifting carrying in bedmarking hickeyssize difference focusrough but consensualaftercare on pagesoft dom energycontrol in bedroom onlypower exchange soft

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

rough/aggressive intimacybondage/restraintchoking/breath playhair pulling (hard)anal elementsoral focussize differenceedging/denialoverstimulationbreeding/fertility themes
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (10)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
deathmurdertraumaviolencebloodcaptivitydark themesgriefmonsterswar
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World & Setting

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World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

grimdark / dark fantasyhigh fantasy

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

royal court / palaceforest / wildernessprison / captivitywar front / rebellion

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

monstersdemonsghostsspiritsfae

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

cathartic releasethe angst deliveredbook hangover

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

autumn

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

at nightcamping triprainy weekendcozy evening

Benevolence & Blood

The Sin of Saints

#1 The Sin of Saints

The Bones of Benevolence

#2 The Bones of Benevolence

The War of Wings

#2.5 The War of Wings

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Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2023
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.3.91 ★ (458)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Benevolence & Blood #2
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