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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
WOWWWW! This one is going to be living RENT FREE in my head for a very very long time - maybe forever! This Dark Vampire Romantasy is about a prisoner named Samara that has been sentenced to 15 years. While inside the prison Samara meets Raphael - a vampire. A bargain is struck and the adventure takes off. Uncovering betrayals and secrets along the way. The story does end in an absolutely EPIC cliffhanger.
While this is in the Romantasy genre, this book has a very very slow burn. I have high hopes that the spice will increase in future installments to the series. I honestly enjoy having a series build the spice book by book! Hell - I’ll be reading book 2 regardless on if the spice increases or not!!! I’m totally in love with the world and the complex magic! I can’t get enough! I’ll definitely be rereading this, buying a trophy copy, and recommending it to everyone!
rounded up from a 3.5
So a vampire and a girl walk through the front doors of a prison, sounds like the start of a bad joke, but oh no that’s how this glorious story starts.
He takes her under her under his wing. She feels like she has been sent into another form of a prison. He kills, she cowers, he is big and broody, she is tiny and naive.
YES!!!! Finally a vampire book where he turns into a bat… Whoop Whoop, this makes me so happy.
So many twists and turns, makes it hard to see how some things will play out. And so many things were going well WHYYYYYYY? Samara Why? And I’m not sure how much I like the ending.
Key points in no particular order:
– Shifting Vampire
– Magic
– one horse
– touch her and perish (literally, no warning)
– manipulation
– no spice
– MMC falls hard
– betrayal
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review
So a vampire and a girl walk through the front doors of a prison, sounds like the start of a bad joke, but oh no that’s how this glorious story starts.
He takes her under her under his wing. She feels like she has been sent into another form of a prison. He kills, she cowers, he is big and broody, she is tiny and naive.
YES!!!! Finally a vampire book where he turns into a bat… Whoop Whoop, this makes me so happy.
So many twists and turns, makes it hard to see how some things will play out. And so many things were going well WHYYYYYYY? Samara Why? And I’m not sure how much I like the ending.
Key points in no particular order:
– Shifting Vampire
– Magic
– one horse
– touch her and perish (literally, no warning)
– manipulation
– no spice
– MMC falls hard
– betrayal
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review
dark
mysterious
fast-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:
Complicated
I'm an absolute sucker for a morally grey (bordering morally black) shadow daddy with an inflated ego and endless sass so Raphael was pure perfection for me.
My heart bled for Samara time and time again, she's faced endless hardships in her life but refuses to let them break her and I adored her from the start.
I love the interactions between the MCs and some great side characters. This was a strong start to a new series about vampires, witches and mortals. With forced proximity and the slowest burn, I cannot wait for the next book.
My heart bled for Samara time and time again, she's faced endless hardships in her life but refuses to let them break her and I adored her from the start.
I love the interactions between the MCs and some great side characters. This was a strong start to a new series about vampires, witches and mortals. With forced proximity and the slowest burn, I cannot wait for the next book.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
BUCKLE UP! I couldn’t not put this down! I need the next book because what was that ending?? We love a vengeful FMC! Lots of trauma, lots of vampire prejudice, romance and magic! Samara has been wrongly imprisoned for 12 years. Since she was eight! This immediately kicked off with her escaping with our ruthless vampire Raphael. I can’t say this is an enemies to lovers because enemies indeed but the romance and tension builds but I’m not quite sold on it… yet. Anyways, she’s super starved and weak from literally hunting rats for dinner (if she’s lucky!!) and so she has to stay with Raphael on their escape journey so she isn’t killed by the guards hunting her or any of the orcs that lay in the forest.
Thus begins our witty sass backs between enemies, close proximity, and a one room trope. The world building was great! The scenery had ambiance and the differences between her realm and Raphael’s vampire realm was well intertwined. He falls first although he won’t admit it, and tbh I’m not convinced with his reasoning for them having to travel together to begin with, but I love his touch her and die vibes so I’ll let it slide. She’s high ranking by birth but was imprisoned as a literal child for 12 years and now has to take on the world as an adult and she does it quite seamlessly I might add. This part felt inconsistent because there’s no way she wasn’t struggling to relearn both her surroundings and interacting with normal people who weren’t guards that abused her. Yeah she has Raphael with her but he’s very much the slaughter first and don’t apologize later type so I wouldn’t say he’s a good example of re-entering society.
Quite a few different mini plots that happened on this journey which made any slow parts non existent. The magic cards were such a fun concept! Also, very much enjoyed the scenes where Raphael trains Samara and she slowly starts building her strength both physically but also in her character growth. The whole getting only one question in your lifetime to ask for ANYTHING, I can’t remember if they were oracles or seers, was such a unique plot line. And the way Samara gives up her ONE lifetime question for Raphael’s hunt of a not so mythical prophetic book, you can’t tell me she doesn’t love him. This prophecy is this beginning to a whole other set of plot and character introductions that really amp up the pace. I don’t want to give away too much because there’s a lot to unpack here, but again, great read! Can’t wait for the second one.
Thus begins our witty sass backs between enemies, close proximity, and a one room trope. The world building was great! The scenery had ambiance and the differences between her realm and Raphael’s vampire realm was well intertwined. He falls first although he won’t admit it, and tbh I’m not convinced with his reasoning for them having to travel together to begin with, but I love his touch her and die vibes so I’ll let it slide. She’s high ranking by birth but was imprisoned as a literal child for 12 years and now has to take on the world as an adult and she does it quite seamlessly I might add. This part felt inconsistent because there’s no way she wasn’t struggling to relearn both her surroundings and interacting with normal people who weren’t guards that abused her. Yeah she has Raphael with her but he’s very much the slaughter first and don’t apologize later type so I wouldn’t say he’s a good example of re-entering society.
Quite a few different mini plots that happened on this journey which made any slow parts non existent. The magic cards were such a fun concept! Also, very much enjoyed the scenes where Raphael trains Samara and she slowly starts building her strength both physically but also in her character growth. The whole getting only one question in your lifetime to ask for ANYTHING, I can’t remember if they were oracles or seers, was such a unique plot line. And the way Samara gives up her ONE lifetime question for Raphael’s hunt of a not so mythical prophetic book, you can’t tell me she doesn’t love him. This prophecy is this beginning to a whole other set of plot and character introductions that really amp up the pace. I don’t want to give away too much because there’s a lot to unpack here, but again, great read! Can’t wait for the second one.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is an interesting new romantasy series that is a slow start but definitely couldn't put it down at the end. A must read if you live witches & vampires. Loved this world of magic and those who are born without the ability of it called voids who are more 2nd class citizens. For those who can't work a certain magic they sell them in cards and carry them around in deck like holders. Definitely loved the world building and can't wait for the next book to see what happens next as I am needing answers to questions I'm left with after finally getting one answered I've had thru the last half of the book. Who or what is Samara? Well with that answered right at the end... like last line almost. What is going to happen now & who else knows? I need to know.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A Bargain so Bloody has reignited my love of vampires once again! 😭 We meet our FMC Samara, who’s imprisoned at Greymere, a despicable prison. While there, she meets our MMC Raphael, the fanged and quietly funny male of this story. Samara makes a deal with Raphael and they escape the prison together. As part of the deal, she has to help him with getting a Dark Witch’s Grimoire. The ensuing adventure that they go on makes Samara question everything that she’s ever been taught about vampires.
Vasilisa does an incredible job immersing the reader into this book, and with all the twists and turns, I was gripping my Kobo while reading as fast as possible!
With the side characters of Demos and Thea (idk why but I ship them ❤️🔥), adding more depth to the story, Samara encounters tough choices for how she wants her future to look. Overall, amazing story and I highly recommend, especially since this is only Book 1!
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilia Drake
Book 1 in Kingdom of Dark Magic
This book sucked me in—the magical card system was super unique, the world-building was rich, and the tension between Samara and Raphael had me fully locked in. It’s a slow burn, and while there’s no spice, I was still eating it up.
Now let me be real… I cannot stand Samara. For someone who’s been rotting in prison for 12 years, she’s judgmental as hell and constantly on her high horse—especially with Raphael. But the second it benefits her? Suddenly his vampy instincts aren’t that bad. Like… puñeta, the math is not mathing.
Raphael, though? Book boyfriend material. He’s got that chill, sassy energy and the “touch her and die” vibes we love. The way he calls Samara out every time she acts brand new? Chef’s kiss.
Even though I wanted to body slam the FMC half the time, I still give this book 5 stars. It had me in my feelings, and that ending?? I’m not okay. The only thing I’m missing is Raphael’s POV—fingers crossed we get it in the sequel.
Huge thanks to Vasilia Drake for the ARC—I need book two yesterday.
A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilia Drake
Book 1 in Kingdom of Dark Magic
This book sucked me in—the magical card system was super unique, the world-building was rich, and the tension between Samara and Raphael had me fully locked in. It’s a slow burn, and while there’s no spice, I was still eating it up.
Now let me be real… I cannot stand Samara. For someone who’s been rotting in prison for 12 years, she’s judgmental as hell and constantly on her high horse—especially with Raphael. But the second it benefits her? Suddenly his vampy instincts aren’t that bad. Like… puñeta, the math is not mathing.
Raphael, though? Book boyfriend material. He’s got that chill, sassy energy and the “touch her and die” vibes we love. The way he calls Samara out every time she acts brand new? Chef’s kiss.
Even though I wanted to body slam the FMC half the time, I still give this book 5 stars. It had me in my feelings, and that ending?? I’m not okay. The only thing I’m missing is Raphael’s POV—fingers crossed we get it in the sequel.
Huge thanks to Vasilia Drake for the ARC—I need book two yesterday.
adventurous
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
All opinions are my own and are not influenced by receiving this book early.
I have a mix of opinions regarding this book. Part of me loved this, but part of me didn’t. Which is why I have picked a 3.5🌟 rating.
‘A Bargain So Bloody’ is book 1 in a new Romantasy series.
This book was quite a quick paced read - which I am not a fan of, but I know others are. Due to the fast pace though, I feel as though scenes and parts of the book were rushed and we didn’t get the full information or a clear picture of what was happening.
With Samara, the FMC I feel like she was written way too naive for what she’s gone through. She’s been trapped as a slave in a witch prison for over a decade and has been beaten and mistreated. She learnt how to hide and survive, but afterwards she was written as weak and extremely trusting to Raphael, a vampire who she claims to hate. She follows him, agrees to all his decisions, stays in his kingdom with very little thought to it etc etc, I feel as though she should of been written as more distrusting, guarding character who takes more time to deliberate on the best way to proceed and survive.
The possible romance between the two main characters, Samara and Raphael, seems extremely forced. I can’t feel any tension or romance between the two of them and there is no depth to their relationship. I wish it was written in a more clear and believable way.
Now, I know I’ve mentioned a lot of negatives, but I did still have a good time reading it. No, it’s not my favourite Romantasy, but I feel as though the storyline and characters have potential .
And the epilogue…. I didn’t see the plot twist coming. But I loved it.
Overall, if you like a face paced, mortally grey, vampire Romantasy that is an easy read. I do recommend giving this a try. Just because I didn’t like it, doesn’t mean someone else won’t.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When the story first opens, readers are introduced to Samara who is serving out a sentence in Greymere. There is no additional detail provided other than Samara has no magic and only has a few more years before being released. Greymere is awful and dank with monsters in the form of other individuals in varying places of power despite also being prisoners themselves. One day, Samara is forced to serve a newcomer, a vampire, and though she is afraid, he makes her an offer she can’t refuse.
A Bargain So Bloody is an intriguing story stemming from the offer Samara receives from Raphael, the vampire. For each and every character and situation, there is more than meets the eye. The worldbuilding is vast but not difficult to follow, in comparison, the character development feels much heavier and complicated as a result of the story being told through Samara’s eyes. Samara’s character frustrated me to no end, but if I were in her shoes I would probably be a bit like her too. On the flip side, Raphael is mysterious and intriguing but there’s something about him that makes those aspects feel okay - like I feel fine when he’s there, it’s a very comforting feeling. Honestly, I love a supportive MMC who does just that and I’m hoping that it doesn’t change.
Overall, the story is gripping and with this being the first book in a new series, I am very excited to see what else is in store. I want to know more about the world and definitely more about the magic system in place. Above all else, I just…I just want more about Raphael (I might have fallen in love…)!!!
Thank you so much to Vasilisa Drake for the gifted ARC! This is my first physical ARC and it has been amazing!!! All opinions are my own.
A Bargain So Bloody is an intriguing story stemming from the offer Samara receives from Raphael, the vampire. For each and every character and situation, there is more than meets the eye. The worldbuilding is vast but not difficult to follow, in comparison, the character development feels much heavier and complicated as a result of the story being told through Samara’s eyes. Samara’s character frustrated me to no end, but if I were in her shoes I would probably be a bit like her too. On the flip side, Raphael is mysterious and intriguing but there’s something about him that makes those aspects feel okay - like I feel fine when he’s there, it’s a very comforting feeling. Honestly, I love a supportive MMC who does just that and I’m hoping that it doesn’t change.
Overall, the story is gripping and with this being the first book in a new series, I am very excited to see what else is in store. I want to know more about the world and definitely more about the magic system in place. Above all else, I just…I just want more about Raphael (I might have fallen in love…)!!!
Thank you so much to Vasilisa Drake for the gifted ARC! This is my first physical ARC and it has been amazing!!! All opinions are my own.