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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
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.
Really excellent slow burn vampire story. I feel like most the vampire books I read that have romance are a quicker burn because well they are vampires. But this one is so slow of a burn. The first half moved along really fast and had a decent unique plot. I was really excited for the ending/cliffhanger, but sadly that part felt a tad predictable and similar to other books. Still excited to read book 2 when it comes out.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4,5/5
Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the Advanced Listening Copy.
A Bargain So Bloody takes us in a world in which witches, vampires and other magical beasts live. Here, we follow Samara, a void, a human without powers, that has been sentenced to fifteen years in a magical prison and Raphael, a vampire, mortal enemy to humans that finds himself in the same prison. The story is really interesting, although a tiny bit predictable at times, it has the codes of fantasy and romantasy while still being original. The magic system is well thought, different and really well used in the story so it's not overwhelming at all.
The main characters are all endearing, each one having their own personality and motivations making him impossible to not like them. I particularly loved how their difference in morals and ethics were portrayed, each of them having good reasons or arguments, even when they clashed. I particularly loved Samara and Raphael relationship and following its development.
The pacing is amazing, a lot of things happens in the book, with the characters going to a lot of different places but not once did it feel rushed or passed over too fast.
The narration was super good! Cecily Foster managed to bring the story to life magnificiently well. She did a great job voicing all the characters, and I particularly loved how she portrayed Samara emotions during the book.
I didn't expect the ending at all and I just loved it. It left me hanging and I cannot wait for the next book!
All in all, I think this book is a really good romantasy and I definitely recommend it!
Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the Advanced Listening Copy.
A Bargain So Bloody takes us in a world in which witches, vampires and other magical beasts live. Here, we follow Samara, a void, a human without powers, that has been sentenced to fifteen years in a magical prison and Raphael, a vampire, mortal enemy to humans that finds himself in the same prison. The story is really interesting, although a tiny bit predictable at times, it has the codes of fantasy and romantasy while still being original. The magic system is well thought, different and really well used in the story so it's not overwhelming at all.
The main characters are all endearing, each one having their own personality and motivations making him impossible to not like them. I particularly loved how their difference in morals and ethics were portrayed, each of them having good reasons or arguments, even when they clashed. I particularly loved Samara and Raphael relationship and following its development.
The pacing is amazing, a lot of things happens in the book, with the characters going to a lot of different places but not once did it feel rushed or passed over too fast.
The narration was super good! Cecily Foster managed to bring the story to life magnificiently well. She did a great job voicing all the characters, and I particularly loved how she portrayed Samara emotions during the book.
I didn't expect the ending at all and I just loved it. It left me hanging and I cannot wait for the next book!
All in all, I think this book is a really good romantasy and I definitely recommend it!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The narration was great. The writing was great. Vampires, witches, and more. Slow burn, DARK, and tense romantasy. I was hooked on the first chapter. Not very spicy but the tension was beautiful.
The FMC, Samara, is deeply traumatized. She was forced to work in a prison due to her being a Void. Her sought after freedom was ultimately an illusion. Once she found this out, she planned escape. She allied with a vampire who was a prisoner. Vampires killed her mother and she has a deep resentment towards the species. There was some growth, but she always seems to go back towards her negative view of vampires. The shift of her worldview is always changing with the more she learns.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“Open your eyes to the world you’re living in, not the one you’d like to believe you are”
“The best lies are rooted in truth”
“Everywhere has its ugliness. Someplaces just cloak it better”
The MMC, Raphael, is the morally grey, obsessive type. He has a strong demeanor and is so patient with Samara. He’s ancient and lethal. He seems eager to make Samara happy and comfortable.
There was some repetition in Samara’s thoughts. That’s expected with trauma.
I can’t wait to see how the story continues. The ending had me in a chokehold and the epilogue 😳
🦇 vampire x human
🔥enemies to lovers (ish)
🐴 forced proximity, one horse
🛏️ one bed (for warmth)
🗡️ high stakes
💀touch her and die
🔮prophecies and hidden identities
🪄unique magic system
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review. Thank you so much Vasilisa Drake for the opportunity.
The FMC, Samara, is deeply traumatized. She was forced to work in a prison due to her being a Void. Her sought after freedom was ultimately an illusion. Once she found this out, she planned escape. She allied with a vampire who was a prisoner. Vampires killed her mother and she has a deep resentment towards the species. There was some growth, but she always seems to go back towards her negative view of vampires. The shift of her worldview is always changing with the more she learns.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“Open your eyes to the world you’re living in, not the one you’d like to believe you are”
“The best lies are rooted in truth”
“Everywhere has its ugliness. Someplaces just cloak it better”
The MMC, Raphael, is the morally grey, obsessive type. He has a strong demeanor and is so patient with Samara. He’s ancient and lethal. He seems eager to make Samara happy and comfortable.
There was some repetition in Samara’s thoughts. That’s expected with trauma.
I can’t wait to see how the story continues. The ending had me in a chokehold and the epilogue 😳
🦇 vampire x human
🔥enemies to lovers (ish)
🐴 forced proximity, one horse
🛏️ one bed (for warmth)
🗡️ high stakes
💀touch her and die
🔮prophecies and hidden identities
🪄unique magic system
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review. Thank you so much Vasilisa Drake for the opportunity.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
This was an infinity star read for me!
I was hooked right away. This book was so good I just devoured it!! The setting, the characters, and the plot were all perfection!
The magical system in this book was also amazing, and I really enjoyed it.
This was also one of the best "one horse" tropes!
And Raphael's nicknames for Samara?!?! 😍
But what got me the most was the ending?!?! I need Book 2 yesterday!!!!
This was so beautifully written, and I cannot wait to see where this story goes next!
Thank you, Vasilisa Drake, for the gifted ARC 🤍
I was hooked right away. This book was so good I just devoured it!! The setting, the characters, and the plot were all perfection!
The magical system in this book was also amazing, and I really enjoyed it.
This was also one of the best "one horse" tropes!
And Raphael's nicknames for Samara?!?! 😍
But what got me the most was the ending?!?! I need Book 2 yesterday!!!!
This was so beautifully written, and I cannot wait to see where this story goes next!
Thank you, Vasilisa Drake, for the gifted ARC 🤍
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake is an utterly immersive fantasy tale full of dark secrets, quiet strength, and slow-burning emotional tension. Narrated flawlessly by Cecily Foster, this audiobook is a must-listen for anyone who loves morally gray characters, lush world-building, and a heroine who comes into her power slowly, painfully, and triumphantly. At the heart of the story is Samara, a Void who is imprisoned for crimes unknown. When the book begins, she’s a timid and compliant prisoner, focused solely on surviving and quietly serving out her sentence. But everything changes when she crosses paths with the vampire Raphael bound in chains and just as much a prisoner as she is. Faced with the possibility of never getting her freedom, Samara takes a leap of courage: she strikes a bargain with Raphael that she will release him from his bonds if he’ll take her with him.
What follows is a blood-soaked journey through a brutal, merciless world. Everywhere they go, a trail of bodies follows, whether due to Raphael’s cold efficiency or the violence others aim at Samara simply for existing. Despite the chaos, there are moments of stunning intimacy and connection: the two of them riding together on a single horse, her trying to maintain distance while he remains fiercely protective. Raphael never forces or pressures her, always giving her space and choice even when everything around them demands brutality.
Through it all, Cecily Foster’s narration is masterful. She gives Samara a gentle vulnerability that evolves into quiet strength, while imbuing Raphael with a layered intensity which is menacing, yet achingly tender when it comes to Samara. Every moment, from whispered conversations to deadly battles, is brought vividly to life.
And just when you think you understand the shape of this story, Drake delivers a jaw-dropping twist that redefines everything you thought you knew. It’s brilliantly executed, perfectly timed and one of those rare reveals that makes you want to go back and re-listen to catch all the hints you missed.
A Bargain So Bloody is a stunning fantasy that proves you don’t need spice to build a romance that burns. With its haunting atmosphere, emotional depth, and unforgettable ending, this audiobook will stay with you long after the final chapter.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So much plot that keeps you realed in wanting more but the tension between the FMC & MMC just continues to build! Twist at the end GIVE ME BOOK 2 PLZ!
Thank you Netgalley & Vasilisa Drake for allowing me to devour the audiobook ARC!
Thank you Netgalley & Vasilisa Drake for allowing me to devour the audiobook ARC!
Those last 2 sentences!!!!! You could kinda tell it was leading up to that but damn. I wanted to know more of Samara's backstory the entire time reading this and we only get tiny glimpses. I can't wait for the next book to learn more. Raphael was an interesting character to have show up and I love his interactions with her. This book is great at sprinkling in bits of information; just enough to have you questioning and wanting to know what the heck it means.
The narration was great as well!
I'm definitely keeping this author in my TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC & ALC.
The narration was great as well!
I'm definitely keeping this author in my TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC & ALC.