A Trade of Blood levels up the game - this is the third book in the series and it’s even better than the last 2.

At the core of these novels is the wonderful dynamic between Din and Ana. But their dynamic hasn’t gotten stale after 3 books because RJB finds ways to add new elements and new dynamics to their relationship. It’s unclear exactly how much time has passed between book 2 and 3 but it’s clear in that time, Din has only grown in confidence both as a detective and in his abilities to manage Ana. In this novel, Din and Ana are a well oiled machine, Din is not the flute in Ana’s hand, he is her hand. I could write a whole essay about how effective chapter 1 is at reorienting the reader to Ana and Din - RJB’s characterization really shines.

And the plot and mystery is incredible. RJB nails the pacing on the mystery - it’s a coin on a string and everytime you think you can grab the coin, RJB snatches it away. I stayed up way past my bedtime reading this book because I couldn’t put it down. This book also gives us more lore about the wider empire but it’s integrated as part the book-specific mystery so it feels cohesive and not overwhelming or info-dumpy.

I’m such a big fan of these books

Okay, huddle up my fellow lovers of anything queer, tragic, magic and dark academia; this one is for us! Oh, and if undiluted yearning is your thing then you’re not gonna want to miss this either.

I have so many thoughts about this book, but most of them wander straight into spoiler territory, so I’ll keep myself contained. This is a book best experienced in its full, spiralling intensity.

Thoughts Be Bloody is a Hamlet retelling that places Horatio Bithersea at the centre and gives him a depth I feel is missing from the original play - he is also trans in this retelling.❤️‍🔥

The novel explores identity, loneliness, insecurity, loyalty, obsession, and the way fear of returning to isolation can twist itself into fierce devotion. It shows how ferociously we cling to the person who feels like they brought light into a dark room - even when that loyalty forces us to question who we are and who we’re becoming.

It’s a story about wanting, losing, and grieving so deeply it threatens to consume you. And threaded through all of this is a sharp examination of classism: how privilege shapes opportunity, how neglect shapes everything else, and how those divides echo through every hallway of the school and every branch of its magic.

Horatio tells the story himself, but the telling is so vivid that the line between hearing his memories and living inside them blurs. The structure won’t be everyone’s preference - it’s strange, nonlinear, and intentionally disorienting - but Patrick Auden makes that choice work beautifully. The writing itself is alive, pulsing with Horatio’s fear, devotion, and unraveling.

As the tragedy unfolds (and it is a tragedy; it wouldn’t be Hamlet otherwise), Horatio’s reality frays in a way that is exquisitely depicted. My heart sped up in rhythm with his, and the gothic atmosphere wrapped itself around every scene. It’s one of the most atmospheric books I’ve read in a long time, with prose that is both gorgeous and unsettling. I found myself postponing picking it back up because I didn’t want it to end.

The magic system is another standout. It expands steadily without becoming confusing, and the rules are both clear and flexible, shaped by ongoing magical research. The school and its magic aren’t just a backdrop; they’re integral to how the book handles classism and the ways knowledge and power are distributed.

The novel also offers an unflinching depiction of how loneliness, insecurity, and isolation can make someone vulnerable to manipulation. Horatio and Hamlett’s toxic dynamic is a striking example of how easy it is to lose yourself trying to become what someone else wants, especially when that person is charismatic and knows exactly what buttons to press. If you haven’t experienced that kind of relationship yourself, this book offers a clear window into how quickly self‑blame and rationalisation can take root - how easy it becomes to convince yourself that you are the problem, that they’d never do that, and forgive them when they do it anyway.

Of course, this is shaped by Horatio’s point of view, and there’s plenty to analyse from Hamlett’s side as well - but I’ll leave that to another reader.

It only feels appropriate to touch a little on how Thoughts Be Bloody holds up as a retelling of Hamlet. Doing so without spoilers for anyone who hasn’t read, seen, or heard Shakespeare’s play is, of course, its own challenge. Even so, the novel marvelously preserves the structural DNA of the original. The truth is ever‑shifting, and in Horatio and Hamlett we see revenge complicated by hesitation and emotional paralysis.

If it isn’t already clear: I loved this book. I honestly can’t believe it’s a debut novel.

Thank you to DAW and Netgalley for the ARC. The thoughts above are entirely my own.

Oh my goodness. This had me in tears at the end. This story, like its protagonist, is magnificent. Touching, funny, heartbreaking, tender, violent, and such a powerful reflection on ‘civilization’.

So much gratitude to @sashareads for inspiring me to listen to this. 10/10 recommend. One of those stories that would benefit anyone and everyone to read. 💖