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katyakat's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I give A Duel with the Vampire Lord by Elise Kova 3 stars. The overall story isn't bad, but the pacing is off. It's a fast-paced book, which makes many details feel rushed and the timeline seem strange. This is a shame because the core story is enjoyable and has a lot of potential.
One major issue is the repetition. The book falls into repetitive cycles with the same arguments between the main characters. This made parts of the story feel stagnant and frustrating. Despite this, there are moments that genuinely engage and invest the reader, making the experience a mix of boredom and interest.
The relationship dynamics between Floriane and Ruvan are intriguing but could have been developed more deeply. Their interactions often felt rushed, missing the slow-burn tension that can make an enemies-to-lovers romance truly compelling.
Additionally, the world-building, while fascinating, sometimes felt underexplored due to the book's brisk pace.
Additionally, the world-building, while fascinating, sometimes felt underexplored due to the book's brisk pace.
The narrative would have benefited from either a longer format to flesh out details and smooth the pacing or a more streamlined storyline to maintain coherence.
In conclusion, A Duel with the Vampire Lord is an interesting read with a lot of potential, but it falls short in execution. It's a decent choice for fans of romantic fantasy looking for a quick read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Blood, Bullying, Gaslighting, Classism, and Sexual content
siglerbooknook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Despite its ups and downs I enjoyed this novel. Floriane is a great example of a strong capable woman who has believable skills and isn't a mean person. Ruvan was also well written with flaws, fears, and wants all fleshed out.
As always, Kova's side characters are my favorite. While some mannerisms became rather redundant, for the most part this group made me laugh, feel the second hand embarassment, and wish for a happy ending.
The plot itself dragged a little. The push me, pull me tension in the romance definitely could have been shorter and I skimmed some areas. I did figure out who the villain was well before the book told me, but the solution was delightfully unexpected.
The magic system introduced for the Vampir is excitingly unique and imaginative, and the underlying principals of the story were heartwarming. As always, I can't wait to dive into the next Kova novel.
š¶ļøš¶ļø
As always, Kova's side characters are my favorite. While some mannerisms became rather redundant, for the most part this group made me laugh, feel the second hand embarassment, and wish for a happy ending.
The plot itself dragged a little. The push me, pull me tension in the romance definitely could have been shorter and I skimmed some areas. I did figure out who the villain was well before the book told me, but the solution was delightfully unexpected.
The magic system introduced for the Vampir is excitingly unique and imaginative, and the underlying principals of the story were heartwarming. As always, I can't wait to dive into the next Kova novel.
š¶ļøš¶ļø
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Gore, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Minor: Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Self harm, Grief, Slavery, Suicide, Cannibalism, Murder, Death of parent, and Genocide
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wanted to carry on with this series because I enjoyed the second book in this series. This book was a lot bigger than the rest, but I loved the tension between Floriane and Ruvan.
This book is based on Floraine and her position as the forge maiden of Hunterās Hamlet is one of reverence, for it is her skill that arms and protects the vampire hunters. She knows her place and is a faithful servant to the Master Hunter and her community until the night of the blood moon. Until her brother is dying at the hands of the Vampire Lord Ruvan. She is wanting to defend her home at all costs, Floriane fights the vampire lord, ready to give her life if it means taking his. But Ruvan doesnāt want to take her life, he wants her. She is kidnapped and brought to the vampire castle, Floriane is now blood sworn to the vampire lord. She is bound in mind and body to her worst enemy. But Ruvan isnāt the fiend she thought he was. She learns the truth of the vampires: They are not mindless monsters, but a proud people, twisted and tortured by an ancient curse. Ruvan believes that Floriane might be the key to ending his peopleās suffering. All Floriane wants is to defend her home. Loyalties are to be tested and lines between truth and lie, hate and passion, are blurred. When her dagger is at his chest, will she be able to take the heart of the man who has claimed her?
I was a little nervous going into this book considering that the book was quite big compared the other two. However, this book was beautiful written. I love both of the main characters and the love story between them. The chemistry. I was all for it. I love the side characters and it didnāt feel like they were there just for the story to be moved along, they were all actually built and had their own weaknesses and strengths. I loved the cursed storyline and how it was the hunter that figured out the curse, not the vampires that have been trying to centuries.
I liked that this book was longer, however, I would have liked it to be longer after Floraine became a vampire queen and the tension between Lavenzia and Drew. Did Floraine reunite with her mother? I still have questions, that I would like to be answered. There were some chapters that I thought were a bit slow-paced and a bit of repeated information at times.
I am thoroughly enjoying this series and I cannot wait to see what the next retelling will be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Body horror
Minor: Kidnapping, Self harm, and Grief
wormonastring's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I wasn't sure I was going to finish this book. The first initial chapters were so cringe with bad dialogue I almost stopped reading. It gets better over time, though, and I wound up enjoying the character conflict. The ending of this book gives you a happily ever after, which is what I think most readers of this genre enjoy. It's an easy read and enjoyable for most.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body horror, Self harm, Death of parent, Gore, Animal cruelty, War, Animal death, Colonisation, and Death
Minor: Cannibalism
prettynerdy3's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Violence, Self harm, Murder, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and War
Minor: Confinement, Addiction, Gaslighting, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Sexual content
tieraneysreadingcorner's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I took my time reading this one since there was so much more world building to add onto the previous books. I didnāt reread, so it really took me a minute to remember and catch up what each book had done.
4āļøās because I thoroughly enjoyed it,
1 on the š¶ scale for me.
In the beginning I was skeptical, āwow another human has to help break a curseā *insert eyeroll*. But then I realized thatās just the trope of these books and I quickly got over it.
It felt a bit deja vu from the elf king plot, āthe human girl has visions from the ancestors before them and figured everything out just in timeā, however with that being said I still enjoyed it! It was the same yet different.
I loved the plot in a whole itself. The forbidden love & sworn enemies falling for each other really has me in a chokehold. The acceptance in this book about working with a human? *chefs kiss*. The way the two MC forged (no pun intended) their relationship -minus the miscommunication- really made me feel like I was apart of their journey!
Miscommunication, one of the worst icks in a book for me. Honestly why canāt the character just say what they mean? Why go around the whole subject just for their suitor/partner/future SO to misunderstand them, it just leads to more problems, which leads to more unnecessary plot. The book was long, longer than the other two. A quarter of the book was about her forging swords āso she could thinkā but she barely had any breakthroughs while doing so.
All in all, 10/10 would recommend.
I canāt wait for the next book in the Married to Magic series!!!
4āļøās because I thoroughly enjoyed it,
1 on the š¶ scale for me.
In the beginning I was skeptical, āwow another human has to help break a curseā *insert eyeroll*. But then I realized thatās just the trope of these books and I quickly got over it.
It felt a bit deja vu from the elf king plot, āthe human girl has visions from the ancestors before them and figured everything out just in timeā, however with that being said I still enjoyed it! It was the same yet different.
I loved the plot in a whole itself. The forbidden love & sworn enemies falling for each other really has me in a chokehold. The acceptance in this book about working with a human? *chefs kiss*. The way the two MC forged (no pun intended) their relationship -minus the miscommunication- really made me feel like I was apart of their journey!
Miscommunication, one of the worst icks in a book for me. Honestly why canāt the character just say what they mean? Why go around the whole subject just for their suitor/partner/future SO to misunderstand them, it just leads to more problems, which leads to more unnecessary plot. The book was long, longer than the other two. A quarter of the book was about her forging swords āso she could thinkā but she barely had any breakthroughs while doing so.
All in all, 10/10 would recommend.
I canāt wait for the next book in the Married to Magic series!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Kidnapping and Sexual content
qcupquake's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
4.9/5
- THIS BOOK WAS FANTASTIC
- a fantasy enemies to lovers
- vampires
- literally a perfect book for me
- hated the long chapters
- loved the plot twists
- god i love this book sm
- ruvan>>>>>
- THIS BOOK WAS FANTASTIC
- a fantasy enemies to lovers
- vampires
- literally a perfect book for me
- hated the long chapters
- loved the plot twists
- god i love this book sm
- ruvan>>>>>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Death of parent
chelsreid1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, Slavery, Body horror, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Racism, Classism, Death of parent, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Violence, Death, Hate crime, Murder, War, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
forgottencupoftea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
ā¢ vampires, curse, prophecy
ā¢ dark-ish atmosphere
ā¢ strong lore and worldbuilding
ā¢ found family vibes + enemies to lovers romance
Though I'm not really into vampire books anymore (long gone are the days when Twilight made up most of my personality), I still wanted to read/give this one a shot as I really liked the two previous books in this series/set in this world. The other two were great, this one was not it for me.
The setting, the worldbuilding, the lore at play are great. But, the overall feeling is that the book was too long: there was a lot of "down" time and a lot of unnecessary narration, I don't need to know every single one of the narrator's thoughts nor all the step involved in the forging of weapons. In my opinion, the whole thing dragged and the book would have benefited from being shorter. I'm usually a rather fast reader, yet it took me most of September to finish this one. And I finished it by skimming the last third.
I also struggled forming any sort of attachment to the characters, I ended up not really caring about them. The romance wasn't really cutting it either. There was definitely some sort of passion burning between the two of them but that's it?
Lastly, the plot. It was all set very nicely and in an intricate way, and then the resolution was quick and easy. The solution to the curse was "too" easily guessed by the characters.
ā¢ dark-ish atmosphere
ā¢ strong lore and worldbuilding
ā¢ found family vibes + enemies to lovers romance
Though I'm not really into vampire books anymore (long gone are the days when Twilight made up most of my personality), I still wanted to read/give this one a shot as I really liked the two previous books in this series/set in this world. The other two were great, this one was not it for me.
The setting, the worldbuilding, the lore at play are great. But, the overall feeling is that the book was too long: there was a lot of "down" time and a lot of unnecessary narration, I don't need to know every single one of the narrator's thoughts nor all the step involved in the forging of weapons. In my opinion, the whole thing dragged and the book would have benefited from being shorter. I'm usually a rather fast reader, yet it took me most of September to finish this one. And I finished it by skimming the last third.
I also struggled forming any sort of attachment to the characters, I ended up not really caring about them. The romance wasn't really cutting it either. There was definitely some sort of passion burning between the two of them but that's it?
Lastly, the plot. It was all set very nicely and in an intricate way, and then the resolution was quick and easy. The solution to the curse was "too" easily guessed by the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
rodes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent