Bound by Blood and Sorrow

Two households. Both alike in dignity and in curse.
An age-old family feud.
And a love to save or destroy them all.
Tessa Downthorn knows the price of love is heartbreak. Until now, she has been spared by both. But when a human is found ravaged in the Crimson Forest, exposing her people as the blood-thirsty monsters they are, Tessa finds herself in a courtship with the son of her family's enemy. Lucky for her, it is an opportunity to protect her people and her heart. After all, she could never love an Ashbane.
Aeden Ashbane knows forbidden love cursed his people to a monstrous existence. But an insatiable bloodlust isn't without its perks. Until now, he has enjoyed these without rebuke. But when his family's reckless ways draw danger to their doorstep, he finds himself forced into the heart of their enemy's home.
Caught in an age-old family feud and trapped in a web of deceit and betrayal, Tessa and Aeden must rely on both charm and wit to serve the interests of their families.
Love brought their people together once before, but it was also their downfall. Will Tessa and Aeden's efforts be enough to unite the families against a greater threat? Or will history repeat itself in bloodshed, leaving them all vulnerable to a far deadlier fate?
Bound by Blood and Sorrow is a New Adult Romantic Fantasy stand-alone. This enchanting tale of love and heartbreak is a loose Romeo and Juliet Retelling with Fae and Vampire-inspired folklore and a far less tragic ending.
Mature content warning: recommended for 18+ due to themes of violence, intimacy, vampirism, and self-harm. See www.jmwallaceauthor.com for a more detailed trigger warning.