I typically avoid bully romances and only pick up dark romance when I’m very specifically in the mood for it. The Blackened Blade struck a balance that worked for me. It helps significantly that the MMCs aren’t truly the FMC’s bullies — not in the way this subgenre often leans into.

The premise delivers that fantasy we’ve all indulged in at some point: getting a second chance to redo the choices we regret, but with the added satisfaction of righteous vengeance. It’s cathartic without feeling cartoonish.

The FMC is not a Mary Sue. She struggles — especially in the beginning — and the story slowly reveals pieces of her life before the INCIDENT that set everything in motion. The emotional beats feel raw and genuine, and I was genuinely moved multiple times throughout the first book.

What lowered the rating slightly were some minor editing and formatting issues — nothing major, but noticeable (a few spacing and capitalization errors, and one misspelling that stood out).

My biggest gripe, though, was the immaturity of some of the bullying. The antagonists are supposed to be 18–19, but at times it read more like 14-year-old mean-girl dialogue. A lot of “you’re ugly” and “you’re mean” energy that didn’t quite land as believable at that age. That may just be me being very far removed from my own teenage years — but it pulled me out of the story occasionally.

Still, I clearly enjoyed it enough to overlook those flaws. A solid 3.75 stars (rounded up because fairness and Pagebound doesn't do that...yet!)

The overall feeling I walked away with was just… meh.

For a fairly short book, it managed to meander a surprising amount. There’s a random murder plot dropped in—seemingly for funsies—and the main emotional arc revolves around two people learning to co-parent. None of it is actively bad, but it never quite comes together in a way that feels purposeful.

That said, I do want to give credit where it’s due: flipping the emotional script so the FMC is the emotionally stunted one was a refreshing choice. Kudos for that. I also genuinely appreciated the emphasis on the MMC’s joy in being a dad—it’s nice to see a male character openly excited about parenthood.

Overall, it wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever read. It just didn’t leave much of an impression. A perfectly serviceable read, but ultimately… meh.