Going by the cover, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when I picked up The Blood Between Us by Filipino author Mercy Jane Porquez Ballesteros. As it turns out, this is a dark romantic thriller that tackles some tough questions and thought-provoking plotlines surrounding revenge and forgiveness. I would say it’s probably written primarily for fans of mafia romance and psychological suspense, but in my opinion it goes somewhat deeper than typical genre fare. As the title alludes, it asks whether the past can ever truly stay buried, and be overcome when it’s written in blood.
The book follows Grace Martin, who at eight years old witnessed her parents’ brutal execution after a staged car crash. Spared by the killer, she’s raised by her aunt, Celeste, in silence and secrecy. Fourteen years later, Grace is a university student still haunted by memories and unanswered questions. When she encounters Declan Moretti, a powerful businessman on campus, her body reacts before her mind can and she finds herself strangely attracted to him. Declan recognizes her immediately: she’s the child he spared, the only exception he ever made. As Grace begins investigating her past and Declan grapples with whether to honor his deadly promise, their paths collide in ways neither can control.
Firstly, I appreciate this book isn’t afraid to tackle difficult subjects head-on. The central premise, namely a romance between a survivor and her parents’ killer, is inherently difficult to write well and believably, but Ballesteros handles it with surprising care and moral complexity. The novel works because the attraction develops before Grace knows the truth, and the book never pretends this is clean or simple. The story refuses to offer easy moral answers, instead forcing both characters, and readers, to sit with discomfort about who is in the right and wrong.
The writing itself is largely very well done, controlled, atmospheric, and emotionally precise. Ballesteros has a knack for capturing trauma through physical details rather than melodrama. Lines like “they never understood how survival could feel like a debt” and “it sat low and constant, like a second heartbeat” reveal Grace’s psychological state beautifully. The prose moves smoothly, building tension through restraint rather than spectacle.
That said, I occasionally found the pacing dragged slightly. The book is quite long for what it is, and sometimes feels like it’s taking itself a bit too seriously. Some of the dramatic one-word paragraphs feel over-the-top, and the slow-burn approach, while thematically appropriate, could have benefited from tighter editing. Still, this was not a big issue for me because of how well-written and readable the characters and central premise are. “I love you,” Grace says at one point to her secretive aunt. “But I can’t live like this anymore.”
Despite the dark subject matter, Grace is a compelling protagonist I cared about throughout. She’s not passive or conveniently forgiving. Declan, too, avoids becoming a cartoon villain. The book also explores some surprisingly nuanced themes. Maybe I’m overinterpreting, but the fact that Grace’s name literally means “forgiveness” isn’t accidental in my opinion. It shows the author put a lot of thought and love into this project. The only thing I will say I wasn’t a big fan of the “three years later” ending. I found it a bit twee, and the pacing in the final chapters could have been handled better.
Sometimes the writing leans into familiar tropes, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Ballesteros seems to use them deliberately rather than accidentally. When Grace starts working for Declan at Moretti Global Group, there are definite Fifty Shades vibes: the powerful, enigmatic CEO; the young woman entering his world through employment; the carefully controlled professional dynamic crackling with unspoken tension. It all adds up to a reading experience that feels like it’s balancing romance genre fiction with something deeper, and will probably please both audiences. Nonetheless, just to forewarn erotica fans, the book is fairly low on spice.
As you’d expect from a romance book, the highlight is seeing Grace and Declan’s relationship develop from wary distance into something deeper and more dangerous. Their interactions crackle with tension and chemistry. The push-pull dynamic works because both characters are guarded for legitimate reasons. And when they finally do get together, it’s worth the slow burn, “His lips were warm, gentle, like he was memorizing the shape of her rather than trying to claim it.”
Overall, I found this to be a highly enjoyable read, generally very well done with a genuinely gripping plot. It’s the type of book you’ll race through despite its length. The opening chapter hooks you immediately, and the central mystery of will Grace discover the truth, and what happens when she does, drives the narrative forward compellingly. I could easily see this adapted into a Netflix series; it has that same addictive, morally complex quality as shows like You or The Sinner.
Worth noting: the print version apparently has some formatting issues (oddly wide margins), though presumably this doesn’t affect the digital edition. And while the story is engaging, some readers may find the prose occasionally too slow or deliberate. If you’re looking for constant action, this isn’t it. But if you want a thought-provoking, emotionally intense story that doesn’t flinch from difficult questions, The Blood Between Us delivers.
Final verdict: Readers of dark romance, fans of psychological thrillers, and anyone who appreciates mafia romance or morally complex character studies will devour this book. Also for fans of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, Caroline Kepnes’s You, and Catherine Steadman’s Something in the Water.
You can get your copy of The Blood Between Us or read for free on Kindle Unlimited here!
